By Ayomide Otitoju
Fidelity Bank Plc has launched the “Lighting Young Minds” initiative, donating 1,000 solar-powered school bags to public primary school pupils across Ogun State in a move aimed at improving educational access in underserved communities.
The initiative was unveiled on July 4, 2025, at a special ceremony in Abeokuta, where Fidelity Bank CEO Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe described the project as a response to the challenges of limited electricity in rural and semi-urban areas.
“These bags are not just study tools—they are instruments of hope,” said Onyeali-Ikpe. “They enable children to read at night safely and help unlock their academic potential.”
The initiative forms part of the bank’s SWEETA (Supporting Women, Education, Empowerment, Technology and Agriculture) CSR programme. Fidelity Bank has also disbursed over ₦8 billion in tuition support, supported more than 3,000 students through the Read2Lead writing competition, and funded school infrastructure through its EduLoan scheme.
Ogun State First Lady, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, who co-unveiled the solar bags, praised the initiative as a timely intervention aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.
“This is a practical, innovative solution to a widespread problem. It directly improves learning outcomes for children in low-resource environments,” she said.
The bags will be distributed across all 20 local government areas of the state. Fidelity Bank’s broader sustainability efforts include green energy financing, youth engagement, and digital financial inclusion.
Fidelity Bank currently serves over 10 million customers and operates 255 branches nationwide. It was recently named Nigeria’s Best Bank for SMEs by Euromoney and earned accolades for innovation in digital and investment banking.
