Fidelity Bank Supports Over 1,000 Families in Kogi Through Food Relief Initiative

 Fidelity Bank Supports Over 1,000 Families in Kogi Through Food Relief Initiative

L-R: Incoming Vice Chairman, Lokoja LGA, Mrs Fatima Abdulkadir; Kogi State Project Coordinator, Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), Pastor Mrs. Esther Ameadaji; Hon. Commissioner for Water Resources, Kogi State, Engr. Yahaya Faruk; Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank Plc, Lokoja, Mr Nuhu Omale; and Commissioner for Youth & Sports Development, Kogi State, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe; during the Fidelity Food Bank Distribution exercise in Lokoja, Kogi State recently.

Lagos, Nigeria — Fidelity Bank Plc has provided essential food items to more than 1,000 families in Kogi State through its Fidelity Food Bank Initiative, as part of efforts to cushion the impact of food insecurity and support vulnerable households.

The distribution exercise, held at the Youth Centre in Lokoja, is part of the bank’s ongoing corporate social responsibility efforts aimed at improving the welfare of underserved communities across Nigeria.

Launched in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative has reached hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries nationwide, providing food support to families experiencing economic hardship while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which seeks to achieve Zero Hunger.

Speaking during the 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 CSR interventions.

Onwumere said the programme was designed not only to provide immediate relief to vulnerable households but also to promote community resilience and wellbeing.

«“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 appreciated the Lokoja community, the Abbasid Foundation and other partners for supporting the intervention.

The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, represented at the event by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Faruk, commended Fidelity Bank for what he described as a demonstration of responsible corporate citizenship.

According to him, the intervention, particularly its support for women and youths, complements government efforts to improve the welfare of residents.

«“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 government's efforts to improve the welfare of our people,” he said.»

The governor also pledged the state government’s continued support in creating an enabling environment for Fidelity Bank and other businesses to operate and contribute to community development.

Also speaking, the Kogi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, described the intervention as timely, particularly for young people affected by economic challenges.

Anyebe expressed appreciation to the bank on behalf of the state’s youths and called for continued collaboration to extend the programme to more beneficiaries.

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

The bank said its food relief programme reflects its broader commitment to creating positive social impact and supporting communities beyond its core banking operations.

Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank serving more than 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 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 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.

It was also recognised as Nigeria’s Best Private Bank at the 2025 Euromoney Awards, while receiving other awards for MSME support, commercial banking, community empowerment and payment processing excellence.