L–R: Head Teacher/School Manager, Aiyetoro African Church Primary School, Okoro Chineye Patricia; School Manager, Adekunle Anglican Nursery & Primary School, Tinubu Abimbola; Head, Legal Services Division, Fidelity Bank Plc, Kingsley Ohiri; School Manager, Makoko Anglican Nursery & Primary School, Olaoye Joseph; and Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility, Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; during the presentation of educational kits to pupils of Adekunle, Makoko, and Aiyetoro Nursery and Primary Schools in the Makoko area of Yaba, Lagos
Abayomi Susan
Fidelity Bank Plc has reiterated its strong commitment to community development and educational advancement with the donation of essential learning materials to pupils in Makoko Community, Yaba, Lagos, under its Fidelity Helping Hands Program (FHHP).
The outreach initiative, driven by the bank’s Legal Services Division, involved the distribution of school bags, exercise books, mathematical sets, writing materials, and other educational supplies to pupils of Makoko Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Aiyetoro Nursery and Primary School, and Adekunle Anglican Nursery and Primary School.
Speaking at the event, the Divisional Head of Legal Services at Fidelity Bank Plc, Kingsley Ohiri, noted that the intervention aligns with the bank’s broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda, which prioritizes youth empowerment, education support, and social welfare in underserved communities.
According to him, the Fidelity Helping Hands Program is a staff volunteer initiative that empowers employees to conceptualize and implement meaningful CSR projects within their communities. He explained that through the program, volunteers from the Legal Services Division mobilized to provide back-to-school materials such as bags, notebooks, pencils, and other essential learning tools to pupils in Makoko, in line with the bank’s education-focused CSR pillar.
Ohiri further stressed Fidelity Bank’s dedication to improving access to quality education for children in public schools, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. He disclosed that over 500 school bags, more than 2,000 exercise books, and several other learning items were distributed during the outreach, describing the gesture as the bank’s way of contributing to a brighter future for the pupils, their community, and the nation at large.
The initiative, aimed at enhancing the learning experience in one of Lagos’ most underserved riverine communities, was warmly received by school administrators, teachers, and parents, who expressed appreciation for the bank’s timely intervention.
The Head Teacher of Adekunle Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Tinubu Abimbola, commended Fidelity Bank for including her school among the beneficiaries, noting that the donation would significantly support pupils’ academic performance. She also praised the recognition of pupils who placed first to tenth in their classes, describing it as a strong motivational boost for learners.
Similarly, the School Manager of Makoko Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Mr. Laoye Joseph, described the donation as a commendable act of compassion and corporate responsibility. He noted that many families in the community struggle to provide basic school supplies due to economic challenges, making the intervention particularly impactful, while offering prayers for the continued growth of the bank.
Teachers at the event highlighted that a lack of basic learning materials often affects pupils’ participation and performance in class. They applauded Fidelity Bank for easing the financial burden on parents, especially in the face of rising living costs.
Under the FHHP initiative, Fidelity Bank staff identify high-impact community projects and raise funds to support them, with the bank’s management matching these contributions to expand their reach and effectiveness.
Fidelity Bank Plc is one of Nigeria’s leading commercial deposit money banks, serving over 9.1 million customers through its digital platforms, 255 business offices nationwide, and its UK subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited. The bank has received several local and international recognitions, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation and MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay BAFI Awards, the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. It was also named Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay BAFI Awards.
