In celebration of World Food Day and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the InnerCity Mission for Children is set to host a high-level roundtable discussion themed “Developing Local Humanitarian Solutions to Global Challenges” on Friday, October 17, 2025.
The event, scheduled to take place in Ikeja, Lagos, seeks to mobilise local engagement from individuals, corporate organisations, and civil society groups committed to tackling hunger and poverty among the most vulnerable populations.
As part of the programme, the humanitarian organisation will also showcase its Food Bank in Ikeja — the first of six established across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
A statement by the Mission’s Publicity Secretary, Ijeoma Kamalu, revealed that attendees will also tour its 100 per cent free InnerCity Mission School, where hundreds of children benefit from quality education, free books, bags, shoes, daily nutritious school meals, and medical care each session.
“This school is the first among 14 fully operational 100 per cent free schools, with an additional five currently under construction, totalling 19 schools spanning countries such as Malawi, Fiji, Liberia, Uganda, the Central African Republic, and India,” she said.
The statement added that the roundtable will feature federal lawmakers, civil society leaders, institutional partners, and representatives of intergovernmental agencies like the United Nations.
The Publicity Secretary said: “Hunger and poverty are existential threats to the stability and future of any society. While governments continue refining economic policies, well-meaning individuals and organisations must rise to contribute to improving lives around them. That is how we build sustainable change.”
Founded in 2005 by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the InnerCity Mission for Children has evolved from a single home for homeless children into a global humanitarian network, with footprints in over 109 countries.
It runs 19 free schools, six physical food banks, and over 1,000 community pantries and kitchens worldwide.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it launched an emergency food relief initiative, distributing over 88 million meals globally in partnership with local governments and community networks.
In response to rising inflation and food prices, the organisation scaled up its outreach with the 1 Billion Meals Campaign (2023), 5 Billion Meals Campaign (2024), and the ongoing 7 Billion Meals Campaign (2025) — a bold effort to end global hunger which has recorded over 5 billion meals distributed globally so far this year.
Beyond food aid, the Mission’s Women Economic Empowerment Initiative (WEEI) has uplifted over 100,000 women across Africa, helping families transition from dependence to sustainable livelihoods.
The statement concluded by noting that the event underscores the InnerCity Mission’s enduring vision to create a world where every child survives, lives above poverty, and becomes an active contributor to societal development.
