Fidelity Bank launches Food Bank Initiative to combat poverty, hunger
Fidelity Bank Plc recently launched a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme dubbed the Fidelity Food Bank as part of its initiatives to combat poverty and end hunger in society.
Through the project, the bank would collaborate with several carefully chosen charitable groups in Nigeria to regularly distribute food to society’s members.
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At the official launch of the project at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe said, “According to the Global Hunger Index, an estimated 2.4 billion people, which represents more than 30 percent of the world’s population, faced severe food insecurity in 2022.
“In Nigeria, data published by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2022, stated that over 133 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor and the major issue is hunger.
“We recognise that one of the ways we can continue to touch lives and give back to the communities we serve is by the introduction of The Fidelity Food Bank initiative,” Onyeali-Ikpe said.
The launch ceremony culminated with the official delivery of the food packs to the Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic church, one of the bank’s partners in the food bank initiative, in the presence of clergy from the church, led by the parish priest, Reverend Father Julius Olaitan.
“It is often said that if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go with people. This is the philosophy behind our partnership with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and other Fidelity Food Bank Partners across the country.
“Our partners will assist in the distribution of food items to people across their various locations”, explained Onyeali-Ikpe.
The bank’s CSR Health and Social Welfare pillar includes the Fidelity Food Bank project. Education, the environment, and youth empowerment are other pillars of the CSR strategy.
With over 7.5 million clients served throughout its 250 business locations and online banking platforms, Fidelity Bank is a fully functional commercial bank with customers across Nigeria.
According to the Global Banking and Finance Awards, the bank was named Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 and Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023.
The bank has also won awards for the “Fastest Growing Bank” and “MSME & Entrepreneurship Financing Bank of the Year” at the 2021 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
The opening of the Fidelity Food Bank in Lagos had in attendance the Assistant Parish Priest, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos, Rev. Father Oscar Obi John; Parish Priest, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos; Executive Director/Chief Operations and Information Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc; Mr Stanley Amuchie among others.