By Ayomide Otitoju
Tier-one lender Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to community development and educational empowerment with the donation of essential learning materials to schoolchildren in the Makoko community of Yaba, Lagos, under its Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP).
The outreach, facilitated by the bank’s Legal Services Division, saw the distribution of school bags, notebooks, mathematical sets, writing materials and other learning aids to pupils of Makoko Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Aiyetoro Nursery and Primary School, and Adekunle Nursery and Primary School.
Speaking during the presentation, the Divisional Head of Legal Services at Fidelity Bank, Kingsley Ohiri, said the initiative forms part of the bank’s broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda focused on education, youth empowerment and social welfare in vulnerable communities.
“The Fidelity Helping Hands Programme is our staff volunteer initiative that enables employees to identify and execute impactful CSR projects,” Ohiri said. “Through this programme, staff volunteers from the Legal Services Division are here in Makoko to distribute back-to-school materials such as school bags, notebooks, pencils and other essential learning tools. This aligns strongly with one of our CSR pillars, which is education.”
Ohiri noted that more than 500 school bags, over 2,000 exercise books and several other learning items were distributed during the exercise, stressing the bank’s commitment to improving access to quality education for children in public schools, particularly those from indigent backgrounds.
“We are proud to give back to the Makoko community. By providing these pupils with the tools they need to learn, we are helping to build a stronger future for the children, the community and Nigeria,” he added.
The gesture, aimed at enhancing the learning experience of children in one of Lagos’ most underserved riverine communities, was warmly received by school administrators, teachers and parents.
The Head Teacher of Adekunle Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Tinubu Abimbola, expressed appreciation to the bank, noting that the donation would significantly support pupils’ academic performance. She also commended the recognition of students who placed first to tenth in their classes, describing it as a strong motivation for learners.
Similarly, the School Manager of Makoko Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Mr. Laoye Joseph, described the intervention as a meaningful act of compassion, saying many families in the area struggle to provide basic learning materials due to economic hardship.
Teachers at the event noted that several pupils often attend classes without basic supplies, a challenge that affects participation and performance, and praised Fidelity Bank for easing the financial burden on parents amid rising living costs.
Through the FHHP, Fidelity Bank staff identify community-based projects and raise funds to support them, with the bank’s management matching staff contributions to expand their impact.
Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank serving over 9.1 million customers through its digital platforms, 255 business offices across Nigeria, and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited. The bank has received several local and international awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation and MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay, the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. It was also named Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay BAFI Awards.
