Susan Abayomi
Fidelity Bank Plc has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to provide food assistance to vulnerable households in Abuja as part of efforts to tackle hunger and alleviate poverty.
The intervention was carried out through the bank’s Food Bank programme, one of its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives launched in April 2023 to address food insecurity and malnutrition in underserved communities.
Since its establishment, the programme has distributed more than 300,000 food packs to beneficiaries across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Speaking at an event in Abuja to mark the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, represented by its Divisional Head of Public Sector, Richard Madiebo, said the bank’s commitment to poverty reduction extended beyond food distribution.
She explained that Fidelity Bank also implements entrepreneurship support and empowerment programmes aimed at helping individuals and families achieve financial independence.
According to her, the bank’s community development efforts span nearly three decades, demonstrating its sustained commitment to improving the welfare of communities where it operates.
Onyeali-Ikpe noted that the bank consistently aligns its CSR activities with the needs of its host communities, stressing the importance of private sector involvement in tackling poverty and promoting inclusive growth.
She disclosed that 2,000 food packs had been provided to residents of Abuja, adding that discussions were ongoing between the bank and the ministry on other collaborative initiatives.
Also speaking, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, praised Fidelity Bank for supporting government efforts to improve the living conditions of vulnerable Nigerians.
He called for stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors, noting that collective action was necessary to address the different dimensions of poverty across the country.
Doro observed that with 63 per cent of Nigeria’s population living in multidimensional poverty, millions of people remained excluded from meaningful economic participation.
He explained that widespread poverty also limits businesses’ access to potential customers and workers, making poverty reduction important not only for social welfare but also for economic growth.
The minister said the ministry was committed to building partnerships with private organisations to expand economic opportunities and encourage more Nigerians to participate in productive activities.
He further urged stakeholders to move beyond public commitments and ensure that poverty alleviation programmes produce measurable and lasting improvements in the lives of vulnerable households.
Fidelity Bank Plc is a commercial deposit money bank serving more than 9.1 million customers through its digital banking platforms and 255 business offices across Nigeria, as well as its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The bank has received several local and international recognitions for its performance in digital banking, SME financing and financial services.
Among its accolades are the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award at the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award from Global Business Outlook and the Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider recognition from Global Brands Magazine.
It was also named Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and Export Financing Bank of the Year at the BAFI Awards.
