Fidelity Bank Distributes 2,500 Food Packs to Vulnerable Families in Edo

Fidelity Bank Plc has distributed food packs to more than 2,500 residents across eight communities in Uromi and Irrua, Edo State, as part of efforts to support vulnerable families and strengthen food security in the country.

The intervention, carried out under the bank’s Fidelity Food Bank initiative, took place at the Uromi Town Hall in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State and was targeted at families facing food insecurity and other economic pressures.

The bank said the intervention was part of its broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme aimed at providing practical support to communities and improving the wellbeing of vulnerable Nigerians.

Speaking during the distribution exercise, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, said the initiative was designed not merely to distribute food but to provide immediate relief to families while contributing to stronger and more resilient communities.

Nwagboh said more than 2,500 beneficiaries across eight communities would receive essential food supplies through the intervention.

“Today’s distribution will provide over 2,500 beneficiaries with essential food supplies. This event 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,” he said.

According to him, the initiative was also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

He said the Uromi intervention was designed to extend immediate assistance to families affected by food insecurity, particularly at a time when the cost of meeting basic household needs has placed additional pressure on many families.

Nwagboh disclosed that the Fidelity Food Bank programme distributes 10,000 food packs every month across the country in collaboration with 19 partners.

He said the partnership model enabled the bank to extend the initiative to communities where the need for food support was greatest.

The intervention also received commendation from the Edo State Government, which described the gesture as an example of the role corporate organisations could play in supporting communities and complementing government efforts to improve the welfare of citizens.

The state Governor, Monday Okpebholo, was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Jerry Uwangue.

Uwangue said the intervention was particularly significant at a time when families were having to prioritise competing needs with limited resources.

“At a time like this, when family needs come first, this act of kindness demonstrates that corporate organisations have a vital role to play in the wellbeing of our communities,” he said.

The commissioner expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank for extending its food support programme to Uromi and urged other corporate organisations to adopt similar initiatives in the communities where they operate.

“On behalf of our Governor and the good people of Edo, particularly the people of Uromi, I thank Fidelity Bank for this remarkable demonstration of corporate responsibility and generosity.

“We encourage other corporate organisations to emulate this worthy example by giving back to the people and communities where they operate,” Uwangue added.

Some of the beneficiaries also expressed appreciation for the intervention, saying the food packs would provide immediate relief and help reduce the financial burden associated with feeding their families.

The Fidelity Food Bank programme was introduced in April 2023 as one of Fidelity Bank’s flagship CSR initiatives, with a focus on reducing hunger and malnutrition while providing support to communities experiencing food insecurity.

The bank said that since its launch, the programme had distributed more than 300,000 food packs to beneficiaries across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The latest intervention in Edo therefore forms part of a nationwide programme through which the bank provides food assistance to vulnerable households while engaging partners to identify communities where support is most needed.

Fidelity Bank said its food security intervention was also intended to contribute to broader efforts to improve community resilience, particularly among households whose ability to meet basic needs had been affected by prevailing economic pressures.

The bank is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank serving more than 9.1 million customers through its digital banking channels and 255 business offices in Nigeria, as well as its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

It has also received a number of local and international awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award at the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

The bank’s Fidelity Mobile App was recognised as the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application by Global Business Outlook, while Global Brands Magazine named it the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider.

Fidelity Bank was also recognised by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria and received the Export Financing Bank of the Year award at the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.