By Ayomide Otitoju
Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to improving education in its host communities through impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Under its education-focused CSR pillar, the bank has undertaken significant projects aimed at promoting quality education across Nigeria.
As part of these efforts, Fidelity Bank recently renovated the library at Emotan College, Wire Road, Benin City, Edo State. The project, executed under the Fidelity Helping Hands Program (FHHP), was spearheaded by the Phoenix Inductee Class of the bank. The FHHP allows employees to identify community needs, raise funds, and receive matching contributions from the bank to implement meaningful projects.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony, Ovie Mukoro, Regional Bank Head, Midwest 1, Fidelity Bank Plc, emphasized the initiative’s alignment with the bank’s CSR pillars. “This renovation project reflects our commitment to enhancing the lives of our host communities through the dedication and generosity of our newly inducted staff, who voluntarily contributed funds to support this project,” Mukoro stated.
Expressing gratitude, the Principal of Emotan Junior College, Mrs. Idukpaye Henrietta, described the investment as a valuable contribution to the nation’s future. She also looked forward to a long-term partnership that would further uplift students. Similarly, Mrs. Sandra Iyalekhue, Acting Education Secretary of Oredo Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), commended Fidelity Bank for the gesture, noting its impact on educational development and research.
In a further demonstration of its CSR commitment, Fidelity Bank donated 40 tables and chairs to LEA School in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This initiative, led by the Prodigies Inductees Class under the FHHP, aims to support quality education delivery in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 – Quality Education.
Meksley Nwagboh, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, underscored the importance of education as a tool for societal progress. “At Fidelity Bank, we recognize the critical role of education in societal development. Through initiatives like this, we aim to ensure that every child has access to essential educational resources and can become an asset to their family, community, and nation,” Nwagboh stated.
LEA School headmaster, Mr. Mohamed Musa, expressed appreciation for the intervention, emphasizing that the donation addressed a critical need for adequate classroom seating. He urged other corporations to follow Fidelity Bank’s example in supporting quality education delivery.
These projects add to Fidelity Bank’s ongoing contributions to the education sector. The bank previously launched the Read2Lead Initiative to foster a reading and writing culture among young people and hosted a webinar in September 2024 for businesses in the education sector, themed “Maintaining Educational Standards Amidst Current Economic Realities.”
Ranked among Nigeria’s top financial institutions, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank serving over 8.5 million customers through digital banking channels, 251 business offices in Nigeria, and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The bank has received numerous local and international awards, including Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Awards, Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023, Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards, and Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023. Additionally, it was recognized as the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
