For the Elevate Africa Fellowship Class of 2026, Nigeria was more than a destination. It was a classroom.

On Thursday, August 13, 2026, the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) welcomed the Elevate Africa Fellowship Class of 2026 for a special Temporary Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) outreach at the warehouse in Mangoro, Ikeja. As part of their two-week cultural and experiential learning intensive in Nigeria, the Fellows, a vibrant cohort of mid-career leaders from across 18 African countries, arrived in impressive numbers and clearly excited to give back. Their interactions throughout the day reflected both purpose and pure enjoyment in serving.

Under the theme “Giving Back with the Alkebulan Village,” the outreach carried deep symbolic meaning. Alkebulan, an ancient name for Africa which captured the spirit of the moment: African leaders gathering as one village to nourish and uplift their own people. The Fellows actively participated in packaging and distributing nutritious food boxes to resilient women and families in underserved communities, turning leadership values into tangible impact.

The Lagos Food Bank was one of several meaningful stops during the Fellows’ Nigeria intensive, and one of two locations where they chose to give back in Lagos (alongside Teach for Nigeria). This act of service is intentional. The Elevate Africa Fellowship prioritises giving back at every intensive, teaching the leaders it develops that service and generosity are core values that must be embraced.

Joy Godwin, Programs Manager of Elevate Africa, spoke on behalf of the Fellowship. She emphasised the importance of translating leadership into practical service and expressed the Fellows’ commitment to contributing to food and nutrition security across the continent.

Also addressing the fellows, Dr. Michael Sunbola, Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative and a member of the Elevate Africa Fellowship Class of 2026, welcomed his fellow fellows to the organisation and spoke to the importance of connecting leadership with service. He expressed appreciation to Elevate Africa for making community engagement an intentional part of the fellowship experience and for giving the fellows an opportunity to see firsthand the work being done to improve food access and strengthen food security in Nigeria. He encouraged the fellows to see service not simply as an activity, but as an important part of the responsibility that comes with leadership and influence.

For the beneficiaries, the food boxes represented far more than nourishment. They brought relief, dignity, and a powerful reminder that Africa’s emerging leaders are already standing with them. Many left with grateful hearts, strengthened by the visible compassion of the Alkebulan Village in action.

This outreach reflects LFBI’s mission to combat hunger and malnutrition through targeted programs like TEFAP. For the Elevate Africa Fellowship Class of 2026, it was a living demonstration that Africa’s transformation requires leaders who do not merely envision change but show up, serve with joy, and make impact happen.