.seek united effort to combat rising levels of hunger

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Corporate organisations, Quality Foods Africa (QFA) and the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, LFBI, at the weekend doled out food packs to vulnerable people in Idi-Araba, Mosafejo, Community, Oworosonki, as part of Corporate Social Responsibility, CRS, in combating hunger in the state in particular and the country in general.

The groups, however, called for a united effort to combat the rising levels of hunger and poverty in less privileged communities

The corporate bodies collaborated to distribute food and relief packages to vulnerable residents of Lone Street, Oworonshoki, Lagos. The initiative, fourth in the series, aimed to offer crucial assistance to individuals and families facing severe economic hardship, providing essential food items to help ease their daily struggles.

Volunteers from both QFA and the LFBI worked alongside local leaders to ensure a smooth and efficient distribution, with each package offering not just sustenance but a glimmer of hope for many facing a daily hardship meeting basic needs.

The food packs include: Bags of rice, noodles, tomatoes paste, garri, (cassava flakes), among others.

Managing Director QFA, Fredrik Van Rooyen, while speaking with newsmen, explained that the sole purpose of the event was to give back to the society, amid economic crunch coinciding, with the celebration of International Women’s Day,

He said, “We are distributing food parks to the community, giving back, saying that we care and just want to make a small difference in somebody’s life, just trying to give back to the communities for the support that we’ve been getting over the years, and just a small means for us to say we’re out here, we want to help.

“We are committed to addressing food insecurity and providing critical relief to communities that need it the most by complementing government’s efforts

“The initiative aimed at bolstering food distribution and promoting the economic resilience of vulnerable people across the country.”

Also, Head of External Affairs and Business Operations at QFA, Damilola Oyewole, stated that “We are committed to extending our goodwill to other parts of the country in nearest future. QFA in the next outreach plans to offer additional forms of relief packages beyond food.

“Most definitely, I mean, this is not the first initiative we are having with the Food Bank, we have had it in different areas in Lagos, and eventually we will expand this outside of Lagos.

“We are a food company, and we are not just great food, we’re great people as well. At the moment, what we have been giving back, even to the orphanages that we have visited in the past, is food, but, as time goes on, we plan to scale up and maybe add more items to the things that we give out.”

According to her, OFA, is dedicated to impacting positively in vulnerable communities with aides intervention initiatives.

She said, “We are committed to extending our CSR activities in support of the federal and state government’s efforts to improve the lives of individuals and organisations.”

Also, Executive Director, Lagos Food Bank Initiative, Michael Sunbola,, noted that over 300 families benefitted from the initiative, underscoring the severe hunger and economic constraints faced by many in the community.

Sunbola further called on the government to provide greater support for initiatives like this, stressing that that collective efforts are crucial in addressing the growing challenges of food insecurity and poverty across the country.

“This is an informal settlement, a slum, and most of the time, communities like this are usually marginalized and are at the forefront of economic hardship.

“What we have done is to identify about 300 families to provide staple food for them in partnership with Quality Foods Africa, and the food, of course, will serve a family of five for about two to three weeks.

“We are also calling on the government and other private sector partners to join hands with organizations like ours in a united effort to combat the rising levels of hunger and poverty in our communities.

“By working together, we can create a more sustainable impact, not only by providing immediate relief but also by fostering long-term solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity and economic hardship.

“It is crucial that we all play our part in uplifting the most vulnerable and ensuring that no one is left behind in these challenging times.”

For many of the beneficiaries, the gesture meant far more than just receiving food, it represented a vital lifeline during uncertain times. “This package is a blessing. It will help me and my children get through the coming weeks,” said a local resident.

According to Mrs. Evelyn Oluwaloremi, 60, wife of the community chief, the Baale, “We are so happy with these laudable empowerment programes by the volunteers. This will be the fourth time they have come to this community.

“However, there are other areas of challenges where we need government intervention, such as; Link and access road, functional drainage system, establishment of public schools, provision of potable of table. We thanked the organisations for the outreach and enjoined other corporate organisations to replicate the gesture by coming to our aide.”

Mrs. Bola Lawal, 50, mother of four children, said, “This is a good program for the less privileged. We commend the sponsors. God will continue to help them because as God blesses them, they will remember to help and support the needy as well.”