Olam Agri, a leading player in the food, feed and fibre sectors, has sponsored a series of impactful events under the Eko World Food Day initiative by donating 800 food boxes to vulnerable communities and commissioned boreholes to enhance access to clean water for key farming communities.
According to the company, this was done to celebrate World Food Day (WFD), which was celebrated on October 16. The firm said that key activities to mark global World Food Day included the Eko Food Day initiative, sponsored by Olam Agri, which highlighted the importance of increasing domestic food production and promoting healthy diets for Lagos State residents.
Other activities included a Road Walk organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, a Food Systems Champions’ Summit bringing together agro-industry stakeholders, a Lagos Agricultural Scholars Quiz Competition for secondary school students, and the World Food Day Grand Finale hosted by the Lagos State governor.
Lagos State commissioner for Agriculture, Bisola Olusanya, lauded Olam Agri’s contributions, stating, “Olam Agri is an essential partner in transforming the Lagos food production landscape. Their robust production, processing, packaging, and distribution capacity is critical in scaling growth across the food value chain. This partnership with the state government is essential for achieving our shared goals in food security.”
In addition to sponsoring these transformative events, Olam Agri partnered with the Lagos Food Bank to distribute 800 food boxes, valued at N13 million, to vulnerable residents. Five hundred of the food boxes went to vulnerable residents of Makoko and Ajegunle, and 300 food boxes were allocated towards hunger relief in flood-affected areas of Maiduguri, supporting displaced individuals with much-needed food aid.
Managing director of Olam Agri Nigeria, Anil Nair, emphasised the company’s dedication to food security, stating, “The right to food and nutrition is fundamental to inclusive growth. We are committed to expanding access to quality, nutritious, affordable food for all Nigerians. Our social investment projects, such as sponsoring the Eko World Food Day, distributing food boxes, and commissioning boreholes, directly contribute to the federal government’s Renewed Hope agenda and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger.”