Fidelity Bank Backs YEIDEP to Boost Youth Empowerment, Student Entrepreneurship

 Fidelity Bank Backs YEIDEP to Boost Youth Empowerment, Student Entrepreneurship

Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has partnered with the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalization Programme (YEIDEP) to expand opportunities for Nigerian youths through entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and skills development.

LAGOS – Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and financial inclusion through a strategic partnership with the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalization Programme (YEIDEP), a Federal Government-backed initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment and promoting entrepreneurship.

The partnership is designed to support the enrolment of students and young Nigerians into the YEIDEP programme, which seeks to equip participants with practical skills, business support and economic opportunities needed to build sustainable livelihoods.

As part of the initiative, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has confirmed its readiness to host the next phase of the enrolment exercise for students and youths across the South-East.

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 and is expected to accommodate more than 60,000 regular undergraduate students.

Speaking on the partnership, the Divisional Head, Product Development at Fidelity Bank Plc, Osita Ede, said empowering young people remains central to the bank's vision of fostering an inclusive and prosperous society.

He said Nigeria's youth represent the country's greatest asset and stressed the importance of providing them with the skills, opportunities and financial support needed to unlock their potential and contribute to national development.

Ede noted that through its digital banking platforms, financial literacy programmes, youth-focused products and strategic partnerships, Fidelity Bank continues to equip young people with tools for success in an increasingly competitive economy.

He added that the bank recognises the challenges many aspiring entrepreneurs face in accessing funding, mentorship and business development support, and remains committed to creating pathways that enable them to overcome those barriers.

Fidelity Bank said its support for YEIDEP aligns with its longstanding commitment to empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which it described as critical drivers of economic growth, innovation and job creation in Nigeria.

The bank encouraged interested students and youths to open accounts and complete their registration through its dedicated YEIDEP enrolment portal https://eserve.fidelitybank.ng/oap/?youth=true.