Mastercard, Lagos Food Bank distribute 300,000 meals to schoolchildren

Mastercard, in collaboration with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, has set up a programme to provide over 300,000 meals to schoolchildren in underserved communities across Nigeria and Kenya in collaboration with the Food for Education Foundation.

A statement from MasterCard on Tuesday revealed that the initiative stemmed from its cause marketing campaign, launched in February 2024, in collaboration with Glovo, a multi-category app that connects consumers with restaurants, pharmacies, groceries and retail stores.

According to the payment firm, under this initiative, for every transaction made with a Mastercard-branded card on the Glovo app in Nigeria and Kenya, a meal was donated to a child in need.

Children who are malnourished are 19 per cent less likely to be able to read a simple sentence by the age of eight and 12 per cent less likely to be able to write a simple sentence than healthy children, according to the World Food Programme.

Additionally, children who receive adequate nutrition are 33 per cent more likely to escape poverty as adults, underscoring the economic impact of inadequate nourishment during childhood.

“At Mastercard, doing well by doing good is a core principle that guides our efforts,” explained Country Manager and Area Business Head for West Africa at Mastercard, Folasade Femi-Lawal. “Through our collaboration with Lagos Food Bank Initiative and Glovo, we are tackling one of the most pressing issues facing underserved communities—child hunger. This initiative enables students to focus on their education without the distraction of an empty stomach, empowering the next generation to realise their full potential.”

Femi-Lawal’s words echo Mastercard’s broader vision of driving positive social impact through strategic collaborations. By aligning with local organisations, such as LFBI and Glovo, Mastercard is creating an ecosystem of support that empowers communities from within.

“At Glovo, we believe in the power of collaborations to drive meaningful change. Working with Mastercard on this initiative allowed us to extend our impact beyond convenience and into communities in need, ensuring that every meal delivered brought hope to a child’s future,” said General Manager for Glovo Sub-Saharan Africa, Diego Nouet.

“For many of the children we serve, a reliable meal can be the difference between attending school and staying home. This collaboration with Mastercard helps us expand our reach, ensuring that more children are nourished and ready to learn.

“We are proud to work alongside Mastercard to build a foundation for these children’s future success,” founder and Executive Director of Lagos Food Bank Initiative, Michael Sunbola.