Fidelity Bank Partners FG-Backed YEIDEP to Empower Nigerian Youths, Drive Entrepreneurship
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, financial inclusion and entrepreneurship through a strategic partnership with the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP), a Federal Government-backed initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with the skills, support and opportunities needed to build sustainable livelihoods and participate more actively in the nation’s economy.
The collaboration is expected to support the enrolment of thousands of young Nigerians into the YEIDEP programme, which seeks to tackle youth unemployment, promote enterprise development and create pathways for economic self-reliance through skills acquisition, financial inclusion and business support.
As part of the next phase of the initiative, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has confirmed its readiness to host the enrolment exercise for students and youths across Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone.
According to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, the registration exercise will take place from July 1 to July 3, 2026, at the university’s Convocation Arena. The exercise is expected to accommodate more than 60,000 regular undergraduate students, making it one of the largest youth enrolment drives under the programme.
Speaking on the partnership, the Divisional Head of Product Development at Fidelity Bank Plc, Osita Ede, said empowering young people remains a core pillar of the bank’s vision of fostering inclusive economic growth and national development.
He described Nigeria’s youthful population as the country’s greatest asset and stressed the need to provide them with the right opportunities to unlock their full potential.
“At Fidelity Bank, we believe that Nigeria’s greatest asset is its people, particularly its youths. Equipping young Nigerians with the right skills, opportunities and financial support is essential to unlocking their potential and accelerating national development.
“Through our digital banking platforms, financial literacy initiatives, youth-focused products and strategic partnerships, we continue to provide young people with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive world. We recognise that access to funding, mentorship and business development support remains a major challenge for many aspiring entrepreneurs, and we are committed to creating pathways that help them overcome these barriers,” Ede said.
The bank noted that its support for YEIDEP is consistent with its longstanding commitment to promoting the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which remain critical to Nigeria’s economic development by creating jobs, stimulating innovation and expanding productive economic activities.
Over the years, Fidelity Bank has implemented several initiatives designed to strengthen entrepreneurship, enhance access to finance and improve financial literacy, particularly among young people and small business owners.
The bank believes that expanding financial inclusion is essential to reducing poverty, boosting productivity and driving sustainable economic growth.
The YEIDEP initiative is one of several Federal Government interventions targeted at addressing the persistent challenge of youth unemployment, which has remained a major socio-economic concern in Nigeria.
Through skills development, enterprise support and access to financial services, the programme seeks to equip young people with practical tools for wealth creation while also helping to reduce vulnerability to crime, social unrest and violent extremism.
Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in Africa, with millions of young people entering the labour market annually. Stakeholders have consistently emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between government, financial institutions, educational institutions and the private sector to expand opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.
Interested students and other eligible youths wishing to participate in the programme have been encouraged to open Fidelity Bank accounts and complete their registration through the bank’s dedicated online enrolment portal.
The partnership underscores Fidelity Bank’s broader commitment to supporting national development priorities by investing in initiatives that promote youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and inclusive economic participation.
Through collaborations such as YEIDEP, the bank aims to help nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s long-term economic transformation.
