The Bunmi Obakoya Foundation has reached out to more than 1,500 Lagos residents with essential food items, offering a helping hand to vulnerable households amid rising living cost, writes Ayodeji Ake
For many low-income households in Lagos, putting food on the table has become an increasingly difficult task as the rising cost of essential commodities continues to stretch family budgets.
From rice and beans to cooking oil and other everyday food items, the cost of feeding has forced many families to make difficult choices about household spending.
Against this backdrop, more than 1,500 residents of Lagos State recently benefited from a food distribution exercise organised by the Bunmi Obakoya Foundation in the Ilupeju area of the state.
The beneficiaries received essential food items, including bags of rice, beans, vegetable oil, spaghetti and noodles, in an intervention aimed at providing some relief to vulnerable households.
For the foundation’s founder, Bunmi Obakoya, the exercise represented another opportunity to extend support to people within her community, particularly those facing economic difficulties.
Speaking during the distribution, Obakoya said the initiative reflected her belief that individuals should complement government efforts by supporting people in need.
“We can’t wait for the government to do everything for us. So, I decided to support my people in my constituency.
“My foundation and I have been doing this every year, and this year, I decided to reach out to about 1,500 people,” she said.
The former Lagos State House of Assembly aspirant explained that the outreach formed part of activities marking her birthday, adding that she had sustained the humanitarian initiative for about 10 years.
She described giving as a personal commitment that predates her involvement in politics and public affairs.
Recounting an experience from her primary school days, Obakoya said she once encountered a struggling plantain seller while in Primary Six and decided to buy all the plantains the woman had available.
According to her, the experience reflected a passion for helping others that has remained with her over the years.
“I have been a giver all my life. My advice is not only for politicians. You must have the heart to give before you can do this.
“It is not everyone that has the heart to give, but I have been doing this since I was in Primary Six, and I am happy doing it. It is my joy,” she said.
A decade of community support
The latest food distribution adds to a series of humanitarian interventions undertaken by the Bunmi Obakoya Foundation, particularly within Ilupeju and surrounding communities.
Over the years, the foundation has reportedly extended support to vulnerable households, elderly residents, students and young people through food distribution, financial assistance, scholarships, healthcare support and vocational initiatives.
Media reports had documented an earlier Christmas intervention during which more than 300 residents received financial assistance of N20,000 each.
The exercise, held on December 24, 2025, was organised to provide financial relief to beneficiaries during the festive period, when household expenditure typically increases.
In October 2024, another intervention under the initiative tagged ‘Let Love Lead’ saw the foundation distribute food items and provide financial assistance to elderly members of the community.
A recent publication highlighted Obakoya’s involvement in entrepreneurship and philanthropy, noting that proceeds from her business activities had supported some of the foundation’s humanitarian commitments.
These interventions suggest that the foundation’s activities have extended beyond occasional food distribution to include education, financial assistance and other forms of community support.
Food affordability and the Lagos experience
The latest outreach also draws attention to the continuing food affordability challenges confronting households in Lagos.
For many families, particularly those in the low-income category, the difficulty is not necessarily the availability of food in markets but the ability to purchase enough to meet their nutritional needs.
The National Bureau of Statistics’ September 2026 inflation report showed that Nigeria’s food inflation rate stood at 19.59 per cent year-on-year, while Lagos recorded 34.40 per cent.
Although the national figures indicated some moderation in inflationary pressures, the situation in Lagos highlighted the continuing financial burden on households.
Similarly, the Lagos Food Bank Initiative’s 2025 Hunger Report examined food insecurity among low-income households in the state, identifying limited income, household size and dependence on purchased food as important contributing factors.
The report documented coping strategies adopted by some families, including reducing meal portions, skipping meals, borrowing money and using savings to meet food needs.
These findings underline the importance of targeted interventions for households struggling to meet their basic nutritional requirements.
While food donations and charitable initiatives cannot independently address the structural causes of food insecurity, they can provide immediate assistance to families experiencing financial difficulties.
For beneficiaries of the Obakoya Foundation’s outreach, the food items received could help reduce household expenses and provide some relief from the pressure of daily feeding.
Giving beyond food
Obakoya expressed satisfaction with the turnout at the distribution exercise, noting that some residents arrived at the venue as early as 10 a.m. in anticipation of the programme.
She maintained that supporting vulnerable members of society should be a shared responsibility and encouraged individuals with the capacity to contribute to the welfare of their communities.
Her position reflects a broader argument about the role of private individuals, foundations and community organisations in complementing public social intervention programmes.
Across Lagos, several charitable organisations and community-based initiatives provide food assistance, educational support, healthcare interventions and other forms of relief to vulnerable populations.
However, the effectiveness of such interventions often depends on their consistency, transparency and ability to reach people with genuine needs.
For organisations involved in food distribution, the challenge is also to ensure that assistance is sustained rather than limited to occasional humanitarian events.
Beyond the distribution exercise, Obakoya also encouraged eligible residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in the 2027 general elections.
Some beneficiaries commended the foundation for the initiative, describing the food distribution as timely assistance amid prevailing economic difficulties.
One of the beneficiaries, Yusuf Adamolekun, thanked Obakoya for remembering residents of the community, saying the intervention would provide relief for his household.
He described the gesture as a welcome development, particularly at a time when many families were struggling to meet their daily needs.
Another beneficiary, Grace Hunpatin, also expressed appreciation to the foundation for sustaining its commitment to supporting members of the community.
Their reactions reflected the immediate importance of the intervention to households facing financial pressure.
For residents who received the food items, the distribution was not merely another birthday activity but an opportunity to take home essential supplies that could help ease their household expenses.
The experience of vulnerable households in Lagos highlights the importance of community-based philanthropy in responding to immediate social needs.
Although government policies remain central to addressing food affordability, poverty and unemployment, private foundations and individuals can provide additional support to people who may otherwise struggle to access assistance.
The Bunmi Obakoya Foundation’s activities over the past decade offer an example of how personal philanthropy can be channelled into community interventions covering food, education, healthcare and financial support.
Nevertheless, the long-term value of such initiatives will depend on their sustainability and ability to make a measurable difference in the lives of beneficiaries.
As more than 1,500 Lagos residents returned home with food supplies from the latest outreach, the exercise offered a reminder that community support can take different forms.
For Obakoya, it was another opportunity to continue a tradition she says began in childhood. For the beneficiaries, it was practical assistance at a time when the cost of feeding remains a major concern for many households.
Ultimately, the story of the outreach goes beyond the quantity of food distributed. It also highlights the place of compassion, personal responsibility and community participation in supporting people facing difficult economic circumstances.
Pictures from the Bunmi Obakoya Foundation’s food Outreach