Mrs. Pamela Shodipo, Executive Director, South, Fidelity Bank Plc (2nd L); Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, Chairman, Board of Directors, Fidelity Bank Plc (4th L); Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc (6th L); and Dr (Mrs.) Nonye Soludo, First Lady of Anambra State (2nd R), with the beneficiaries at the Fidelity Bank Empowerment Programme organized in partnership with Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Foundation, held in Awka, Anambra State recently.
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable social impact and economic inclusion through the empowerment of women and schoolchildren in Anambra State.
The landmark intervention, held recently in Awka during the 2026 Fidelity Empowerment Programme, featured the distribution of 200 sewing and grinding machines to women entrepreneurs, N25 million in seed capital support, 1,500 food packs to vulnerable households, and 250 solar-powered school bags to schoolchildren. The initiative was implemented in partnership with Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, a Non-Governmental Organisation led by the Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, described the programme as a reflection of the Bank’s enduring commitment to empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and creating opportunities for sustainable growth.
According to the bank’s CEO, the initiative marked the first time that three of Fidelity Bank’s flagship social impact initiatives—the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative, Lighting Young Minds Programme, and Give Her Power Initiative—were brought together under a single intervention platform; and Anambra State is the first beneficiary.
“Today is more than an empowerment event; it is a demonstration of our belief that meaningful progress begins when people are given the tools and opportunities to succeed. At Fidelity Bank, our purpose goes beyond banking. We are committed to helping individuals realize their aspirations, overcome challenges, and build better lives. When communities thrive, businesses thrive; when families prosper, societies become stronger; and when people are empowered, possibilities become endless,” she stated.
Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe further noted that the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative continues to provide critical support to vulnerable households across Nigeria, particularly during a period of economic challenges affecting many families.
“Access to food remains a basic human need. By supporting vulnerable families, we are restoring dignity, strengthening resilience, and fostering greater social inclusion within our communities,” she added.
Speaking on the Lighting Young Minds Programme, Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe explained that the solar-powered school bags distributed to pupils are designed to enhance learning outcomes by providing a reliable source of light for studying after dark, especially in communities with limited access to electricity.
The programme also featured the Give Her Power Initiative, through which women received vocational tools and financial support aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing household income, and advancing women’s economic participation.
In her remarks, the Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Dr (Mrs.) Nonye Soludo, commended Fidelity Bank for its unwavering commitment to uplifting vulnerable groups and investing in community development.
“We gather today, not merely to distribute items or celebrate another social impact initiative, but to reaffirm a simple truth: when we invest in people, we invest in the future. Every woman supported, every child empowered, and every family assisted represents a step towards building a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous Anambra State,” she said.
Mrs. Soludo expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank for aligning with the vision of empowering communities and improving lives through impactful interventions.
“Beyond the empowerment items being distributed today, Fidelity Bank is investing in human potential, family stability, and community development. This partnership demonstrates the important role socially responsible organisations can play in advancing sustainable development and improving the quality of life of the people they serve,” she added.
The Fidelity Empowerment Programme forms part of Fidelity Bank’s broader commitment to driving positive social impact across Nigeria through targeted interventions in education, economic empowerment, food security, health, and community development.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving more than 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international awards, including the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Innovation Award for MSME support; Best Retail and SME Bank Award from Independent Newspapers; Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; and Nigeria’s Best Private Bank at the 2025 Euromoney Awards. The Bank also received the inaugural Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year award by Nairametrics, the SME Bank of the Year award by NewsDirect, and the Straight-Through Processing (STP) Excellence Award by Citi Group, in addition to recognition by Global Brands Magazine for Excellence in Community Empowerment.
