L-R: Deputy President, Valorem Inductees Class, Fidelity Bank Plc, Olamide Wilson; Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; Director, JKS Special Needs Academy, Abuja, Nifemi Ajileye; Team Lead, Human Resources Business Partner, Abuja and North, Fidelity Bank Plc, Aishatu Sambo; and President, Valorem Inductees Class, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ekeh Adaora, during the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP) CSR outreach in Abuja recently.
By Peace Udugba
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has provided critical funding support to the JKS Special Needs Academy in Abuja through its Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), aimed at ensuring continued shelter and care for vulnerable children.
The intervention was facilitated by a group of the bank’s newly recruited employees, known as Team Valorem, as part of their induction activities. Through the FHHP initiative, employees are encouraged to contribute to social development by dedicating their time, resources and skills to impactful community projects.
Under the initiative, employees identify social causes, contribute 50 per cent of the required funding, while the bank matches the contribution.
Speaking during the outreach programme, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, said the intervention aligns with the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillars centred on health, social welfare and youth empowerment.
According to him, the support provided will help secure the orphanage’s accommodation for another year, thereby guaranteeing a safe and stable environment for the children.
“This intervention reflects our belief that building a better society is a shared responsibility. Through the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme, we empower our employees to actively contribute to meaningful social causes.
“The funding provided will secure the orphanage’s accommodation for an additional year, ensuring a stable and safe environment for the children. This support guarantees that these children continue to have a place they can call home,” Nwagboh stated.
He also commended caregivers at the facility for their commitment and urged stakeholders to place greater emphasis on empowerment and skill acquisition for children with special needs.
“Beyond providing basic needs, we must provide these children with opportunities to develop skills and become self-reliant. Everyone, regardless of their physical or socio-economic status, has a role to play in society,” he added.
Responding, Director of JKS Special Needs Academy, Mrs. Nifemi Ajileye, expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank and its staff for the timely intervention.
“We are truly grateful to Fidelity Bank for this support. It will significantly improve the welfare of the children under our care and help us sustain our operations,” she said.
Ajileye noted that caring for children with disabilities requires substantial resources, especially in the area of medical care and therapy.
“Many of the children require continuous medical attention and therapy, which are quite expensive. Support like this helps us bridge critical gaps and continue delivering quality care.
“This support from Fidelity Bank is timely and it means the world to us and to these children. It will help us continue our work and secure a better future for them,” she added, while calling for sustained support from organisations and individuals.
Fidelity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to social responsibility through initiatives focused on inclusive growth, community empowerment and improved living conditions across Nigeria.
