In a significant effort to combat hunger during the festive season, two hundred families in Lagos's Ebute Metta community received vital food relief supplies. The distribution event, held on Friday, December 12, 2025, was a collaborative effort between the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) and the THX 22 foundation, the charitable arm of the gaming company 22Bet.
Addressing Multidimensional Poverty in Lagos
The initiative aimed to alleviate the severe hardship caused by Nigeria's challenging economic climate. Michael Sunbola, the Executive Director of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, highlighted the critical need for such interventions. He stated that it is unacceptable for residents of Nigeria's commercial capital to suffer from hunger, revealing a stark statistic: approximately 60 per cent of people living in Lagos are considered multidimensionally poor.
Sunbola explained that the partnership with 22Bet was forged to help actualize the company's corporate social responsibility goals and extend support to hundreds of households. "We are hoping that with this we can put smiles on the faces of these beneficiaries, who in turn, of course, will reach out to their own families," he said. He also noted that the Lagos Food Bank Initiative's work is extensive, currently operating in 170 communities, and expressed openness to future collaborations with government bodies.
A Yuletide Gesture of Gratitude and Impact
Fikayo Ogunfuye, the Country Director for 22Bet and THX 22, cited the yuletide season as the primary motivation for the outreach. He described the effort as a way to give back to the community that has supported their business. "It's just a way for us to basically say thank you... they've accommodated us as a business, they've allowed us to be here and for us to run our business successfully," Ogunfuye remarked.
He further emphasized the targeted nature of the aid, acknowledging the harsh economic realities many face. "We had looked at areas that really needed support... a lot of underprivileged and unprivileged people, a lot of retirees, a lot of widows and widowers," he explained. The Ebute Metta community was selected as a starting point due to its high concentration of vulnerable residents, allowing for the greatest impact within a short period. Ogunfuye confirmed plans to expand similar initiatives to other parts of Lagos in the coming years.
Beneficiaries Voice Appreciation and Hardship
The recipients of the food boxes expressed profound gratitude for the gesture, commending both THX 22 and the Lagos Food Bank for their timely support. Their appreciation, however, was coupled with candid accounts of the prevailing economic strain.
Hadijat Salau, a local trader, lamented the skyrocketing cost of living. "The government is putting us through hardship. We buy things worth N100 with N1500. This morning, before I came, I ate food worth N1000, and I didn't notice that I ate. Before, you could eat food worth N200," she shared, painting a vivid picture of the inflation affecting daily life.
Another beneficiary, Olubunmi Williams, who was not receiving aid from the initiative for the first time, testified to its consistent helpfulness in easing her family's burdens. The relief supplies provided a crucial buffer during a period of widespread financial difficulty, offering not just nourishment but also a message of communal solidarity.
