Mrs. Pamela Shodipo, Executive Director, South, Fidelity Bank Plc (2nd L); Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, Chairman, Board of Directors, Fidelity Bank Plc (4th L); Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc (6th L); and Dr (Mrs.) Nonye Soludo, First Lady of Anambra State (2nd R), with the beneficiaries at the Fidelity Bank Empowerment Programme organized in partnership with Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Foundation, held in Awka, Anambra State recently.
By Peace Udugba
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reinforced its commitment to sustainable social impact and economic inclusion through the empowerment of women, schoolchildren and vulnerable households in Anambra State.
The intervention, which took place recently in Awka under the 2026 Fidelity Empowerment Programme, saw the distribution of 200 sewing and grinding machines to women entrepreneurs, ₦25 million in seed capital support, 1,500 food packs to vulnerable households, and 250 solar-powered school bags to pupils.
The programme was implemented in partnership with Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, a non-governmental organisation founded by the wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, said the initiative underscored the bank’s commitment to empowering individuals, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for sustainable growth.
She noted that the programme marked the first time three of the bank’s flagship social impact initiatives—the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative, the Lighting Young Minds Programme and the Give Her Power Initiative—were integrated into a single intervention platform, with Anambra State emerging as the first beneficiary.
“Today is more than an empowerment event; it is a demonstration of our belief that meaningful progress begins when people are given the tools and opportunities to succeed. At Fidelity Bank, our purpose goes beyond banking. We are committed to helping individuals realise their aspirations, overcome challenges and build better lives.
“When communities thrive, businesses thrive; when families prosper, societies become stronger; and when people are empowered, possibilities become endless,” she said.
According to Onyeali-Ikpe, the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative continues to provide critical support to vulnerable households across Nigeria, especially amid prevailing economic challenges.
“Access to food remains a basic human need. By supporting vulnerable families, we are restoring dignity, strengthening resilience and fostering greater social inclusion within our communities,” she added.
On the Lighting Young Minds Programme, she explained that the solar-powered school bags are designed to improve learning outcomes by providing pupils with a reliable source of light for studying after dark, particularly in communities with limited access to electricity.
She further stated that the Give Her Power Initiative seeks to promote entrepreneurship, boost household incomes and enhance women’s participation in the economy through vocational tools and financial support.
In her remarks, the wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, commended Fidelity Bank for its commitment to supporting vulnerable groups and investing in community development.
“We gather today not merely to distribute items or celebrate another social impact initiative, but to reaffirm a simple truth: when we invest in people, we invest in the future. Every woman supported, every child empowered and every family assisted represents a step towards building a stronger, healthier and more prosperous Anambra State,” she said.
She thanked the bank for aligning with the state’s vision of empowering communities and improving lives through impactful interventions.
“Beyond the empowerment items being distributed today, Fidelity Bank is investing in human potential, family stability and community development.
This partnership demonstrates the important role socially responsible organisations can play in advancing sustainable development and improving the quality of life of the people they serve,” she added.
The Fidelity Empowerment Programme forms part of the bank’s broader commitment to driving positive social impact across Nigeria through targeted interventions in education, economic empowerment, food security, healthcare and community development.
Fidelity Bank Plc serves more than 10 million customers through its digital banking platforms, 255 business offices across Nigeria and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited. The bank has received several local and international awards for its support to small businesses, innovation, export and trade finance, private banking and community empowerment.
