FoodCo Commences School Support Drive

FoodCo, a Top 5 retailer and operator of the largest supermarket chain brand in South-West Nigeria outside Lagos, has commenced a School Support Drive to support vulnerable school children in its host communities.

The first phase of the program, which held recently, was targeted at Ibadan, the Oyo State capital where the company has its origins. Beneficiary schools were Methodist Primary School, Bodija and St. James Basic School, Oke Ado, where educational kits including school bags and writing materials were distributed to the pupils.

Speaking during the event, Funmi Aiyepeku, Head of Innovation, Growth and Transformation at the company, stated that the School Support Drive is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 aimed at ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

She said: “We are delighted to announce the roll-out of the FoodCo School Support Drive, beginning with our home community in Ibadan. As a proudly home-grown company, FoodCo has always seen itself as a partner in the growth and progress of its host communities. That informs our continuous investment in opportunities that hold value for them and have a significant positive impact on their future sustainability.

According to the United Nations, one out of every 5 Nigerian children is currently out of school. A key contributor to this is poverty and the lack of quality educational materials to enhance the learning experience for children. We are optimistic that as we embark on similar interventions in other vulnerable communities, it will help to attract more children into the classrooms as well as improve the overall quality of learning within our communities.”

Aiyepeku further stated that, “children, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds, will continue to be at the centre of FoodCo’s CSR interventions. This is evident in some of our legacy programs including the FoodCo Annual Children’s Christmas Party and the now-rested Adegbenga Sun-Basorun Scholarship Scheme.”

Established in 1982 as a fresh fruits and vegetables store, FoodCo is a diversified consumer goods company with interests in retail, quick service restaurants, manufacturing and entertainment. With 21 outlets spread across Oyo, Lagos and Ogun States, the company was listed in the Financial Times ranking of 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Africa for the years 2021 and 2022.