The Ibadan Food Bank Initiative, under its founder Popoola Olalekan Samuel, mobilized its fourth annual “Ibadan Hunger Walk” this past weekend, distributing aid and raising awareness under the banner “Operation Slay Hunger.”
The event saw volunteers, sponsors, and community partners join forces to combat food insecurity across the metropolis.
The outreach received significant institutional backing, with BOVA and Company Limited and the Oyo State Government serving as major sponsors. Support also came from partner organizations including the YALI Oyo State Network, Ayo Fatokun Foundation Water, Lead City University, and Ibadan Foodies Plan.
In his address, founder Popoola Olalekan Samuel highlighted the critical role of collective action. “The public and our donors are the true definition of sustainability. It is this collective support that remains the key to ending hunger in Ibadan,” he stated, framing the fight against hunger as a shared community responsibility.
The distribution was conducted in an orderly manner, with the Amotekun Corps providing security. Beneficiaries received carefully packed “Box of Love” food parcels through a structured process. Adding a layer of joy, a Santa Claus figure distributed clothing and gifts to homeless children, courtesy of event sponsors.
The initiative also attracted celebrity advocacy, as popular Nollywood actor Femi Adebayo joined the walk to promote his upcoming film Ajesinkole 2, leveraging the event’s platform to reach the community.
Beneficiaries expressed profound relief, with many noting the devastating impact of rising hunger in the city. One volunteer echoed the sentiment, calling hunger “a menace to society, capable of stripping people of their humanity.”
The event’s spirit was captured in its slogan, “One step, one meal, one future,” reaffirming the organization’s mission to spread hope across Ibadan, one person and one meal at a time.
