society
Flamestar Empowerment Initiative Holds Second Edition of Feed Lagos 1,000 Outreach
Flamestar Empowerment Initiative Holds Second Edition of Feed Lagos 1,000 Outreach
Flamestar Empowerment Initiative (FEI), a non-governmental organisation focused on social development and humanitarian intervention, has successfully organised the second edition of its food outreach programme aimed at addressing food insecurity among vulnerable residents of Lagos State.
The outreach, themed “Feed Lagos 1,000,” was held on December 19, 2025, at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Building in Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos and at JMJ Quarters in Ajegunle Lagos.. The programme witnessed the distribution of food packs containing essential items to more than 1,000 beneficiaries, as part of efforts to support low-income households during the year-end festive season.
Organisers of the initiative explained that Feed Lagos 1,000 was conceived in response to the growing challenge of food insecurity, which has been exacerbated by rising living costs and economic pressures across the country. They noted that many families find it increasingly difficult to meet basic nutritional needs, particularly during festive periods when household expenses often rise.
According to the organisers, the outreach was driven by the belief that collective action and community-based support can help reduce hunger, hardship, and social vulnerability.
Speaking at the event, Ololade Yahaya said the initiative was born out of the organisers’ observation that many people resort to begging during the Christmas season due to economic hardship. He added that Flamestar Empowerment Initiative deliberately chose the festive period as an opportunity to give back to the community and provide relief to those in need.
Yahaya, who is one of the trustees of Flamestar Empowerment Initiative, noted that the organisation intends to scale up the programme in the coming years, having successfully supported 1,000 families again this year.
“Last year, we gave food items to 1,000 families, and this year, we have done the same. Going forward, we hope to do much more, possibly reaching up to 100,000 people next year,” he said. “This initiative is about helping communities rise above poverty. When you feed a family, you reduce hardship and even help prevent crime. That is the goal of Flamestar Empowerment Initiative.”
Yahaya also revealed plans to expand the organisation’s humanitarian focus beyond food distribution, announcing that FEI intends to launch a cancer awareness programme in the first quarter of next year, including free screening services, in response to the increasing rate of breast cancer in the country.
Reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service, another trustee of Flamestar Empowerment Initiative, Oluwatosin Lewis, described the 2025 edition of Feed Lagos 1,000 as an improvement on the maiden edition, noting that the organisers were better prepared.
“Last year, we held an event at Mende, Lagos and also visited two military cantonments. This year, we are here in Ifako-Ijaiye, and we are also heading to Ajegunle to replicate what we have done here. Our goal is to reach as many parts of Lagos as possible,” she said.
Lewis explained that the organisation places strong emphasis on crowd control and safety, which is why it carefully selects venues with halls and gated compounds to ensure orderliness during distributions. She added that the philosophy of Flamestar Empowerment Initiative centres on restoring hope to communities, especially at a time when economic hardship has caused many people to lose faith.
She further disclosed that, beyond Feed Lagos 1,000, the organisation also runs other empowerment programmes, including initiatives focused on supporting children’s education. According to her, the long-term vision is to grow the organisation to a point where multiple empowerment programmes can be executed simultaneously during festive seasons.
On her part, Yejide Owootomo, another trustee of the organization stated that Flamestar Empowerment Initiative is driven by a strong desire to give back to society, particularly in view of the growing number of people struggling with hunger.
“Regardless of the level of support we receive, we will continue to give back and empower people,” she said. “From here, we are moving to Ajegunle, then to a military cantonment, and we will also be distributing food items to officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), from Obanikoro Bus Stop to Anthony Bus Stop.”
Beneficiaries of the outreach included elderly residents, widows, and low-income earners from Ifako-Ijaiye and surrounding communities. Many expressed appreciation to the organisation, describing the intervention as timely and impactful amid prevailing economic challenges.
One of the beneficiaries, Babatunde Asorobi, commended Flamestar Empowerment Initiative for bringing people together to support the less privileged. He described the initiative as rare, noting that it is uncommon to see organisations prioritising the welfare of the downtrodden at such a time.
Asorobi added that if private individuals and organisations could come together to support members of the public, government institutions should also do more to fulfil promises made to citizens. He praised Flamestar Empowerment Initiative for its contribution to social cohesion and immediate relief for struggling households.
“This kind of initiative goes a long way in addressing hunger at the grassroots level. We encourage more organisations and individuals to support similar causes,” he said.
Feed Lagos 1,000 forms part of Flamestar Empowerment Initiative’s broader mission to empower communities through sustainable interventions in education, health advocacy, and economic support. The organisation has indicated plans to expand the programme to other parts of Lagos State and beyond, while calling on corporate bodies, philanthropists, and well-meaning Nigerians to partner with it in scaling its impact.
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.
In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.
According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.
“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.
The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.
Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.
It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak.
society
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”
Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.
The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.
Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.
Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”
The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.
Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”
While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.
In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.
As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.
Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.
From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.
A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.
Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.
As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.
Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)
May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.
May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.
May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.
May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.
May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.
Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).
More years.
More anointing.
More impact.
If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.
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