The Symphony of Praise Initiative (SOP Initiative), through its ConnectCharity arm, successfully carried out the SOP FoodBox 2025 outreach, delivering essential food support to hundreds of vulnerable families across Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area and neighbouring communities in Lagos State.
The distribution, which took place on December 20, saw a total of 528 FoodBoxes shared with families in need. Each FoodBox contained staple food items valued at over ₦10,000, providing timely relief during the Christmas season.
A total of 390 families were pre-registered, while over 200 additional unregistered families were accommodated on the ground due to the evident level of need. In all, more than 590 households benefited from the intervention, with 71.5% of beneficiaries drawn from the Amuwo Odofin community, and the remaining 28.5% coming from neighbouring areas such as Ajegunle and Ijesha.
The event was well attended and featured key stakeholders, including Dr. Yemi Olawaiye, Founder of Yeloto Inc., SOP Initiative’s project partner for the second consecutive year. Nollywood actress Rekiya Yusuf also joined the outreach, uplifting beneficiaries through games and cash prizes, adding warmth and encouragement to the day.
Speaking on the impact of the project, Damilola Aiyetigbo, ConnectCharity Team Lead, noted that the reach of SOP FoodBox 2025 extended beyond initial projections.
“The response we saw shows that food insecurity cuts across community boundaries. While our focus remains Amuwo Odofin, we are encouraged that this intervention touched families from neighbouring communities as well.”
Over the course of one month, SOP Initiative mobilized ₦4,220,498 in donations from supporters across Nigeria and the diaspora to execute the project. While the original target was ₦30 million to feed 3,000 families—a figure informed by local hunger-risk statistics—the organization views this year’s outcome as a meaningful step forward.
Commenting on the project, Oluwaseun Ayeni, President of SOP Initiative, emphasized the value of collective action:
“It may look like a drop of water in an ocean, but real impact is made in moments like this. You don’t need to be a billionaire to give out of what you have. As a Christian youth group, this is one of the most practical ways we live out the love of Christ.”
SOP Initiative has reaffirmed its commitment to the FoodBox project as an annual community intervention and expressed optimism that, with stronger partnerships and support, the initiative will move closer to its long-term goal of reaching 3,000 families in future editions.