Tax Rebates for Humanitarian Initiatives: Urging Policy Change in Nigeria

Nigeria is being called upon by a senior leader of the InnerCity Mission to introduce tax rebates for individuals and organisations investing in education, healthcare, food security, and poverty eradication initiatives across the country. Pastor Titus Temisan made the call during the InnerCity Mission Global Roundtable Conference on "Developing Local Humanitarian Solutions to Global Challenges" held in Lagos, which marked World Food Day and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Key Takeaways:

• The InnerCity Mission, a faith-based humanitarian organisation, operates 19 fully free schools across three continents, offering education, daily meals, healthcare, skill acquisition programmes, and school supplies to indigent children.
• The organization partners with over 60 institutions and 800,000 volunteers worldwide, reaching millions of children and families annually through its education and feeding initiatives.
• The Mission runs three major food banks located in Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom, which have collectively served over one billion meals in the last six years.
• Three members of the National Assembly who attended the event commended the initiative, describing it as a rare example of compassion in action, and announced plans to partner with the mission through local development trusts.
• The Mission's work has proven that breaking the cycle of poverty begins with giving every child a fair chance to learn and dream, with 19 free schools across Nigeria serving children tuition, books, and daily nutritious meals at no cost.
• The legislature will continue to prioritise the needs of vulnerable citizens by engaging civil society organisations, local communities, and development partners to ensure inclusive, people-centred policymaking.
• Professor Qrisstuberg Amua advocated for a more practical approach to agricultural education to attract young people to the sector, citing a thousand young people who applied to study agriculture in six months in his university.

Statistics:

• Over 88 million meals were distributed in 2020, bringing dignity and hope to children and families trapped in hunger.
• The InnerCity Mission has operated 19 fully free schools across three continents for many years.
• The organisation partners with over 60 institutions and 800,000 volunteers worldwide.
• Collectively, the three major food banks in Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom have served over one billion meals in the last six years.

Sources:

• This Day (September 16, 2025)
• [1] Pastor Titus Temisan and others, InnerCity Mission Global Roundtable Conference, Lagos (2025)
• [2] Pastor Omoh Alabi, InnerCity Mission Director, welcome address
• [3] This Day article (copyright 2025)