Fidelity Bank Plc has strengthened its intervention against food insecurity with the distribution of essential food items to more than 1,000 vulnerable families in Kogi State under its Fidelity Food Bank Initiative.
The outreach, held at the Youth Centre in Lokoja, underscores the bank’s continued commitment to supporting underserved communities and improving the welfare of vulnerable households across Nigeria.
Launched in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative has provided food support to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries nationwide, contributing to efforts to address hunger and advance 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 extensive corporate social responsibility programmes.
She said the programme was designed to provide immediate relief to families experiencing economic difficulties while demonstrating the bank’s commitment to creating sustainable social impact in the communities where it operates.
Onwumere said the Lokoja intervention was not merely about distributing food but also about strengthening household resilience and supporting families during difficult economic times.
“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 commended the Lokoja community, the Abbasid Foundation and other partners for their support towards the successful implementation 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 demonstration of responsible corporate citizenship.
Faruk said the initiative would complement government’s efforts to improve the welfare of vulnerable residents, particularly women and young people, while encouraging more corporate organisations to support communities through similar interventions.
Also speaking, the Kogi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, described the food distribution as a timely intervention for families and young people affected by economic hardship.
Anyebe, who spoke on behalf of the state’s youths, expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank for its continued community development initiatives and called for stronger collaboration to extend the programme to more beneficiaries.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Zainab Abubakar, expressed gratitude to the bank, saying the food items would provide significant relief for her household.
She said the assistance had offered hope to many families and prayed that Fidelity Bank would sustain its support for vulnerable Nigerians.
Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank with more than 10 million customers served through its digital banking channels, 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 by Independent Newspapers, Best Bank for Export and Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions Awards, as well as Nigeria’s Best Private Bank at the 2025 Euromoney Awards.