The tenth anniversary of the iCare Food Bank provided a platform for Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson to reflect on a decade of humanitarian service while outlining his expectations for further development across Ikorodu and Nigeria.
Speaking at the anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 17, 2026, the Member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives described the milestone as a period of meaningful community impact and expressed confidence that more development projects and opportunities would emerge before the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Benson highlighted anticipated road commissions and project flag-offs, the commissioning of stadiums and hospitals, and the creation of employment opportunities. He also acknowledged the difficulties associated with economic reforms, maintaining that Nigerians should remain hopeful about the longer-term benefits of the government’s policies.
The occasion celebrated the iCare Food Bank’s decade of monthly food assistance to vulnerable residents through its Apo Aanu programme. More than 1,000 beneficiaries received food packages and ₦5,000 each for transportation at the anniversary gathering, underscoring the practical welfare focus of the initiative.
Political leaders from across Ikorodu Division used the occasion to acknowledge Benson’s wider constituency interventions and discuss the importance of continuity in development.
Hon. Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan, APC candidate for Ikorodu Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, described the food bank as one of the initiatives through which Benson had affected lives over the years. He also cited the lawmaker’s road infrastructure interventions and called for support to enable him to continue his work.
Prince Abdul-Lateef Adedayo Ladega, Executive Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, commended Benson’s contributions to the division, while Hon. Sunday Benson, Executive Chairman of Imota LCDA, highlighted road projects and support for the provision of a general hospital among the interventions benefiting his council area.
Hon. Ameen Olawale Apanishile, Executive Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, praised the federal lawmaker’s performance and described him as a mentor whose contributions had supported development within the council.
The anniversary also became an occasion for Benson to call for support for APC candidates ahead of the forthcoming elections. He named President Tinubu, Lagos State governorship candidate Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, himself, and the party’s candidates for the Ikorodu State Assembly constituencies among those he urged residents to support.
The gathering brought together two dimensions of constituency engagement: a humanitarian programme addressing immediate household needs and a wider discussion about infrastructure, employment and the future direction of development in Ikorodu.
As the iCare Food Bank enters its second decade, its anniversary offers a moment to assess both the reach of its food assistance and the broader expectations residents place on their elected representatives. For Benson and the community leaders present, the occasion linked the record of past interventions with calls for continued development and public participation in the years ahead.
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