Fidelity Bank Supports Over 1,000 Families With Food Relief in KogiBy Our Correspondent

Fidelity Bank Plc has distributed essential food items to more than 1,000 families in Kogi State as part of its ongoing efforts to tackle food insecurity and provide relief to vulnerable households across Nigeria.

The intervention, carried out under the bank’s Fidelity Food Bank Initiative, took place at the Youth Centre in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, where beneficiaries received food supplies aimed at easing the pressure of rising living costs and supporting household welfare.

The initiative underscores Fidelity Bank’s continued focus on social impact and community development, particularly among underserved populations facing economic difficulties.

Launched in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative has provided food assistance to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries across Nigeria. The programme is also aligned with 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 Fidelity Food Bank as one of the financial institution’s most extensive corporate social responsibility interventions.

She said the initiative was designed not only to provide immediate relief to households experiencing food insecurity, but also to contribute to improved wellbeing and stronger communities.

According to her, Fidelity Bank believes that businesses have a responsibility to make meaningful contributions to the communities in which they operate.

“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,” Onwumere said.

She expressed appreciation to the Lokoja community, the Abbasid Foundation and other partners for supporting the intervention, stressing that collaboration remained important in expanding the reach and impact of initiatives targeted at vulnerable Nigerians.

Onwumere said the Lokoja outreach should therefore be viewed as part of the bank’s broader objective of empowering communities and helping households build resilience in the face of economic challenges.

The Kogi State Government also commended Fidelity Bank for the intervention, describing it as a demonstration of responsible corporate citizenship.

The state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr Yahaya Faruk, said the initiative would complement government efforts to improve the welfare of vulnerable residents.

He particularly acknowledged the focus on women and young people, noting that such interventions could make a meaningful difference to households experiencing hardship.

“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 the government’s efforts to improve the welfare of our people,” the governor said.

Ododo assured Fidelity Bank and other responsible businesses of the state government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to operate and contribute to socio-economic development.

He added that greater participation by corporate organisations in community support programmes could help transform the lives of more Nigerians.

Also speaking at the event, 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 pressures.

Anyebe, who spoke on behalf of the youths of the state, expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank for sustaining the food relief programme and its broader community development efforts.

“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,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the partnership between the bank and stakeholders in Kogi State would be strengthened to enable more young people and vulnerable households to benefit from similar interventions.

For beneficiaries, the programme offered immediate assistance at a time when many households are under pressure to meet basic needs.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Zainab Abubakar, expressed gratitude to Fidelity Bank, saying the food items would provide significant support to 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,” Abubakar said.

She also prayed for the continued success of the bank so that it could expand its intervention and reach more vulnerable families.

The Kogi distribution forms part of Fidelity Bank’s broader food security and social impact agenda, which has seen the Fidelity Food Bank deployed to communities across different parts of Nigeria.

Beyond providing immediate food relief, the initiative reflects growing efforts by private-sector organisations to complement government programmes aimed at addressing hunger, poverty and economic vulnerability.

Fidelity Bank, which is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank, currently serves more than 10 million customers through its digital banking platforms and 255 business offices in Nigeria, as well as its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The bank has also received several local and international recognitions for its contributions to banking, innovation, MSME development, trade finance and community empowerment.

Among the recognitions cited by the bank are the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria Innovation Award for MSME support, the Best Retail and SME Bank Award from Independent Newspapers, and awards for Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions Awards.

Fidelity Bank was also recognised as Nigeria’s Best Private Bank at the 2025 Euromoney Awards, while it received the inaugural Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year award from Nairametrics, the SME Bank of the Year award from NewsDirect and the Straight-Through Processing Excellence Award from Citi Group.

The bank has additionally been recognised by Global Brands Magazine for its contribution to community empowerment, reinforcing its stated commitment to using its resources and platforms to support communities and promote inclusive development.

Through initiatives such as the Fidelity Food Bank, the financial institution said it would continue to focus on interventions capable of providing immediate relief while contributing to longer-term community resilience and improved livelihoods.