Foundation gives food items to 1,500 Lagos residents

Beneficiaries during the outreach. Photo: Idowu Abdullahi

The Bunmi Obakoya Foundation has distributed food items to 1,500 residents of Lagos State as part of efforts to support vulnerable households in the Ilupeju area of the state.

The foundation said the intervention was aimed at providing relief to families struggling to meet their basic needs amid prevailing economic challenges.

The beneficiaries received essential food items, including bags of rice, beans, vegetable oil, spaghetti and noodles.

Speaking during the outreach on Saturday, the founder of the foundation, Bunmi Obakoya, said the distribution, which was part of activities marking her birthday, reflected her commitment to community welfare.

She urged individuals and well-meaning Nigerians to complement government efforts by supporting vulnerable members of society.

Obakoya said, “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.”

The former Lagos State House of Assembly aspirant disclosed that she had sustained the humanitarian initiative for 10 years.

She said her passion for giving was rooted in her childhood, recalling how she once bought all the plantains from a struggling seller she encountered while in Primary Six.

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According to her, the experience reinforced her commitment to helping others, adding that giving should be driven by genuine compassion rather than political considerations.

“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.

She expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that some beneficiaries had arrived at the venue as early as 10am ahead of the distribution.

Obakoya also encouraged eligible residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate actively in the 2027 general elections.

She urged residents to support their preferred candidates in Lagos State and President Bola Tinubu, stressing the importance of exercising their civic responsibility through the ballot.

Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing the food items as timely support for their households.

A beneficiary, Yusuf Adamolekun, thanked Obakoya for remembering residents of the community, saying the intervention would provide relief for his household.

Similarly, another beneficiary, Grace Hunpatin, expressed gratitude to the foundation for its continued commitment to supporting members of the community.