Hannah Tedunjaye
For five years, a non governmental organisation, The Slum Project, has consistently reached out to different suburban communities in Lagos, spreading joy and comfort through food donations, skills acquisition and enlightenment programmes
Founder of the Slum Project, Victor Afolabi, who highlighted the steady growth and expanding impact of the grassroots initiative, said it is focused on alleviating poverty among residents of informal settlements across Lagos State.
Speaking on the organisation’s journey, during the 2025 Slum Project Outreach held at Orile Community , Afolabi, an online media personality,said the programme began in 2021 as a one-off charity outreach but later evolved into a sustained humanitarian platform driven by the commitment of its volunteers and partners.
According to him, the project first reached Makoko in 2021, where hundreds of residents benefited from food distribution and other forms of community support. He explained that the scope of the outreach expanded significantly in subsequent years, with an increase in funding, volunteers and beneficiaries.
He emphasised that in addition to distributing food items, the project also focused on celebrating Christmas with the people, reminding them that they are seen, valued and loved, while also sharing the message that Jesus is the reason for the season.
He noted that by 2022, the number of beneficiaries had increased several times over, with expanded food distribution and community engagement activities. However, challenges such as limited donations and occasional security issues affected some outreach efforts, particularly during the 2023 intervention.
Despite these setbacks, the Slum Project continued its work, extending its reach to communities along Apapa Road and other parts of Lagos. In 2024, the organisation sustained its interventions in Apapa Road, while the 2025 edition focused on the Ilaje community in Orile.
Beyond food relief, Afolabi disclosed that the organisation has expanded into education and skills development. In 2024, the Slum Project, in partnership with the Stella Idowu Foundation, awarded scholarships to two beneficiaries, one for formal education and another for vocational skills acquisition.
He explained that the skills scholarship allowed participants to demonstrate talents such as hairdressing, makeup and other vocational skills, enabling the organisation to identify those most deserving of support.
The initiative also runs an education-focused programme known as “Free One Goes to School,” through which pupils receive school bags, exercise books and other learning materials. Afolabi said the programme was implemented in 2022 at Ijora Senior Secondary School, targeting students in SS1 to SS3, and plans are underway to revive the initiative in 2026.
Afolabi reaffirmed the Slum Project’s commitment to sustained community development, stressing that the organisation would continue to expand its reach, strengthen partnerships and deepen its impact among underserved communities.
“Five years ago, The Slum Project started with a simple yes.A yes to compassion, service and to showing up for people who are often unseen and unheard.
“From 2021 to 2025, we have walked into communities with food for the hungry, clothes for the forgotten, and compassion for the broken. We have seen smiles return, dignity restored, and stories rewritten. Children who once stayed home now wear school uniforms again. Families who felt abandoned found themselves remembered.
“The journey was not always easy. There were seasons of uncertainty, limited resources, and silent prayers. Yet, each year, God proved Himself faithful, sending helpers, strengthening volunteers, and touching hearts willing to give. Every outreach reminded us that purpose is sustained by love and fueled by faith.
“The Slum Project at 5 is more than a timeline; it is five years of lives touched, hands held, and hope reborn. It is five years of choosing to show up, even when it was inconvenient. Five years of believing that one act of kindness can spark lasting change.
“As we reflect on 2021–2025, we do so with gratitude to God, to our volunteers, to our partners, and to everyone who believed in the vision. This is not the end of the story. It is a reminder that love still works, and the mission continues.”, he said.
One Comment