In the riverine communities of Sagbokoji and Whala-Koji, where access to basic needs often depends on the rhythm of the tides and the strength of a boat ride, every act of kindness carries deeper meaning.
On April 4, 2026, Emmanuel Chapel joined hands with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) for a meaningful outreach to these hard-to-reach settlements in Amuwo Odofin LGA. Through the combined power of the Family Farming and TEFAP programs, the partnership delivered both immediate food relief and long-term empowerment to vulnerable households facing food insecurity.
Ahead of the outreach, a preparatory training was held on April 2, 2026, in Sagbokoji for selected beneficiaries as part of the Family Farming initiative. The session focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge on poultry management, ensuring they were well-prepared to effectively utilize the starter kits and sustain the intervention beyond the outreach day.
The day of the outreach began with the Lagos Food Bank team and their volunteers meeting with the Emmanuel Chapel team at the Whala-koji community, air filled with determination. After a warm welcome and briefing, the group embarked on a 15–20 minute boat ride across the waters to reach these often isolated riverine communities. Upon arrival, the atmosphere came alive with purpose as volunteers and church members worked side by side, distributing staple food boxes to food-insecure households while equipping women with starter kits for urban backyard poultry farms (including cages, chicks, feeders, drinkers and multivitamins).
What unfolded was more than an outreach; it was a shared act of compassion in places where daily life demands resilience. Smiles broke across faces as families received nourishment to ease immediate burdens, and hope sparkled in the eyes of women who now held the tools to raise their own chickens, producing food for their households and creating opportunities for income over the coming months.
Dr. Michael Sunbola, Founder and Executive Director of LFBI, expressed deep gratitude to Emmanuel Chapel for their commitment to reaching the unreached. He praised the volunteers and team for their selfless service and highlighted how this collaboration reflects a shared vision of restoring dignity and building resilience where it is needed most.
Representatives from Emmanuel Chapel also shared inspiring words, reaffirming the church’s dedication to practical love and service that touches lives in tangible ways.
For the resilient families of Sagbokoji and Whala-Koji, this intervention arrived at a critical time. The TEFAP packages brought immediate food security, while the Family Farming component planted seeds for self-reliance, helping households not only survive difficult seasons but begin to thrive through sustainable agriculture.
This outreach reinforces LFBI’s mission to combat hunger and malnutrition by combining immediate support with sustainable solutions that strengthen communities from within.