Fidelity Bank Plc has intensified its commitment to tackling food insecurity and supporting 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, is part of the bank’s sustained Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts aimed at improving the wellbeing of underserved communities across Nigeria and contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which focuses on Zero Hunger.
Since its launch in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank initiative has reached hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries nationwide, providing food relief to families facing economic challenges while strengthening community resilience.
Speaking during 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 impactful CSR interventions.
She said the programme was designed not only to alleviate hunger but also to support vulnerable households and promote stronger, more resilient communities.
“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.
Representing Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Faruk, commended Fidelity Bank for demonstrating what he described as responsible corporate citizenship.
Faruk said the intervention would complement government’s efforts to improve the welfare of vulnerable citizens, particularly women and youths.
“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.
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 affected by economic hardship.
“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.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Zainab Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the bank, saying the food items would provide significant relief for her household.
“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.
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 across Nigeria and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The bank has received several local and international recognitions, including the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria 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 Awards; and Nigeria’s Best Private Bank at the 2025 Euromoney Awards.
It has also received the Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year award by Nairametrics, SME Bank of the Year by NewsDirect, the Straight-Through Processing Excellence Award by Citi Group, and recognition from Global Brands Magazine for Excellence in Community Empowerment.
Photo Caption: 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; 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.