By Ayomide Otitoju
Fidelity Bank Plc has extended its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative, to Anambra State, distributing essential food supplies to more than 2,000 vulnerable residents in Awka.
The two-day outreach, held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Awka and at Emmaus House of the Anglican Diocese, targeted the elderly, widows, and other vulnerable groups.
Speaking at the distribution exercise, Dr. Nosa Orumwense, Regional Bank Head (Awka), reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting communities across Nigeria.
“The Fidelity Food Bank was launched as part of our commitment to the well-being of our host communities. We are delighted to bring this initiative to Anambra State, in collaboration with our partners, to ensure the most vulnerable among us receive support during these difficult times,” Orumwense said.
The initiative drew commendation from religious and community leaders. Rev. Father Levi Ukor, Director of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Catholic Diocese of Awka, lauded the bank’s compassion. “Hunger remains a pressing issue for many households, and Fidelity Bank’s decision to provide food support to this large number of vulnerable people shows genuine social responsibility,” he said.
Similarly, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, described food as a basic necessity and urged other corporate organisations to emulate Fidelity Bank’s intervention. Chinedu Okafor, Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, also hailed the initiative, noting that it brought timely relief to struggling families.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude, with Mrs. Adanma Mbah saying the food supplies “came at the perfect time,” while another recipient, Mrs. Nnenna Okeke, urged more organisations to follow Fidelity’s example in tackling hunger.
Since its launch in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative has distributed over 250,000 food packs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, reaching more than 300 communities nationwide.
Fidelity Bank, which serves over 9.1 million customers across its 255 business offices in Nigeria and through its UK subsidiary, has been recognised with several awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay and the 2024 Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by Euromoney Awards for Excellence.
