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.
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has continued its efforts to address food insecurity and support vulnerable households with the distribution of essential food items to more than 1,000 families in Kogi State through its Fidelity Food Bank Initiative.
The outreach programme, held at the Youth Centre in Lokoja, reflects the bank’s commitment to fostering positive social impact in communities across Nigeria. Since its launch in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank has reached hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries nationwide, providing critical support to families facing economic hardship while contributing to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – Zero Hunger.
Speaking at the distribution exercise, Regional Bank Head, North Central II, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Blessing Onwumere, described the initiative as one of the bank’s most far-reaching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions. According to her, the programme was established to help reduce hunger and improve the wellbeing of underserved populations, while reinforcing Fidelity Bank’s belief that businesses have a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the communities they serve.
Onwumere noted that the outreach in Lokoja represents more than the distribution of food items, emphasizing the bank’s broader goal of empowering communities and fostering resilience.
“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. We appreciate the Lokoja community, the Abbasid Foundation and all our partners for supporting this impactful initiative,” she said.
Commending the initiative, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Faruk, described Fidelity Bank’s intervention as a remarkable demonstration of corporate citizenship.
“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. We remain committed to providing an enabling environment for the bank and other responsible businesses to thrive. If more corporate organisations emulate Fidelity Bank’s example, many more lives will be positively transformed,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the Kogi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, described the initiative as a timely intervention for young people across the state.
“On behalf of the youths of Kogi State, I sincerely appreciate Fidelity Bank for this timely intervention. The Fidelity Food Bank initiative continues to provide much-needed relief to families and demonstrates the bank’s genuine commitment to community development. We look forward to strengthening this partnership for the benefit of even more young people across the state,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Zainab Abubakar expressed gratitude to the bank for the support.
“This is the first time I am receiving this kind of assistance, and I am truly grateful to Fidelity Bank. These food items will go a long way in supporting my family. Fidelity Bank has brought hope to many homes, and we pray that the bank continues to prosper so it can keep touching more lives,” she said.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 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.
