At Lavic Private School in Dopemu Agege, Lagos, Toheeb, a young boy who once stared blankly at his teacher now raises his hand to answer questions. His mother noticed the change first. Then his teacher. Then his classmates. The difference was not a new textbook or a better teacher. It was a meal.

Scenes like this have become increasingly common through the Lagos Food Bank Initiative’s Education Enhancement Intervention for Food Insecure Students programme, known as EDUFOOD. The programme addresses a crisis that often goes unnoticed. Millions of children arrive at school hungry, making it difficult to concentrate, participate, and learn. Hunger does not only affect nutrition. It affects education, confidence, and opportunity.

EDUFOOD provides nutritious meals during school hours, helping children stay in school, concentrate better, and improve academically. The programme also eases the financial burden on parents and caregivers, many of whom struggle to provide daily meals for their children.

In 2026, the programme has continued to expand through meaningful partnerships. Zayith Yogurt marked its eighth anniversary by supporting a school feeding outreach that reached 800 children across underserved communities. Classic Cream by Esosa Foods celebrated Children’s Day by providing nutritious meals to 1,000 pupils in Agege and Dopemu, while Project Foodshare supported additional feeding outreaches in June. Cornerstone Insurance also returned for the second consecutive year, providing hot meals to 500 pupils across three low cost private schools in Agege.

The impact extends far beyond the meals served. Mr. Oladipo Akinola, Proprietor of De-ebullient Academy, Agege, reported improved attendance, greater classroom participation, and better learning outcomes among beneficiaries. Parents speak of children who return home excited about what they learned instead of distracted by hunger. These are small changes with lifelong implications.

Speaking during one of the outreaches, Mr. Moses Wang, Deputy Director of Administration of CWAY Food and Beverages Co. Ltd, captured the heart of the program when he said, “Feeding these children is not just about a meal. It is about showing them they matter and giving them a better opportunity to learn and succeed.”

As the Lagos Food Bank Initiative continues to expand EDUFOOD across underserved communities, every nutritious meal served becomes an investment in a child’s future. The organisation remains grateful to its partners, volunteers, and supporters whose contributions continue to make these life changing interventions possible.

The Lagos Food Bank Initiative invites individuals, corporate organisations, and development partners to join this mission. Every donation helps place nutritious meals before a child. Every volunteer strengthens an outreach. Every partnership expands the programme to another school. Together, it is possible to ensure that no child in Lagos has to choose between hunger and learning.