L-R: Incoming Vice Chairman, Lokoja LGA, Mrs Fatima Abdulkadir; Kogi State Project Coordinator, Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), Pastor Mrs. Esther Ameadaji; Hon. Commissioner for Water Resources, Kogi State, Engr. Yahaya Faruk; Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank Plc, Lokoja, Mr Nuhu Omale; and Commissioner for Youth & Sports Development, Kogi State, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe; during the Fidelity Food Bank Distribution exercise in Lokoja, Kogi State recently.
Abayomi Susan
Fidelity Bank Plc has continued its efforts to combat food insecurity and support vulnerable households with the distribution of essential food items to more than 1,000 families in Kogi State under its Fidelity Food Bank Initiative.
The outreach, held at the Youth Centre in Lokoja, underscores the bank’s commitment to promoting sustainable social impact and improving the welfare of communities across Nigeria.
Launched in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative has provided food assistance to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries nationwide, particularly households affected by economic hardship. The programme also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which seeks to achieve Zero Hunger.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, the Regional Bank Head, North Central II, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Blessing Onwumere, described the initiative as one of the bank’s most significant Corporate Social Responsibility interventions.
She explained that the programme was designed not only to provide immediate relief to vulnerable Nigerians but also to contribute to stronger and more resilient communities.
According to Onwumere, the Lokoja outreach goes beyond the distribution of food items, as it reflects the bank’s broader commitment to improving lives and supporting families facing difficult economic circumstances.
“Today’s distribution will provide essential food supplies to over 1,000 beneficiaries. This initiative goes beyond the distribution of food items; it is about uplifting lives, strengthening communities, and supporting families with resources that contribute to their wellbeing and resilience,” she said.
She also appreciated the Lokoja community, the Abbasid Foundation and other partners for their contributions towards the success of the programme.
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, represented by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Faruk, commended Fidelity Bank for the intervention, describing it as a strong demonstration of corporate responsibility.
He particularly praised the bank for extending assistance to vulnerable residents, including women and youths, noting that the initiative complements government efforts to improve the welfare of citizens.
“We commend Fidelity Bank for extending a helping hand to vulnerable members of our society, particularly women and youths. This is a laudable initiative that complements government’s efforts to improve the welfare of our people,” he said.
The governor’s representative further encouraged other corporate organisations to adopt similar initiatives, stressing that greater private-sector involvement could help improve the lives of more Nigerians.
Also speaking, the Kogi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, described the intervention as timely, particularly for young people and families across the state.
He expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank for its continued investment in community development and called for stronger collaboration to extend the initiative to more beneficiaries.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Zainab Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the bank, saying the food items would provide significant support for her family.
She noted that it was her first time receiving such assistance and prayed for the continued success of the initiative.
Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank serving more than 10 million customers through its digital banking platforms, 255 business offices across Nigeria and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The bank has received several local and international recognitions for its contributions to banking, innovation, MSME development and community empowerment.
Through initiatives such as the Fidelity Food Bank, the financial institution continues to position its corporate social responsibility programmes around addressing pressing socioeconomic challenges and improving the wellbeing of communities across Nigeria.
