Fidelity Bank Supports Over 1,000 Families With Food Relief in Kogi

L-R: Incoming Vice Chairman, Lokoja LGA, Mrs Fatima Abdulkadir; Kogi State Project Coordinator, Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), Pastor Mrs. Esther Ameadaji; Hon. Commissioner for Water Resources, Kogi State, Engr. Yahaya Faruk; Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank Plc, Lokoja, Mr Nuhu Omale; and Commissioner for Youth & Sports Development, Kogi State, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe; during the Fidelity Food Bank Distribution exercise in Lokoja, Kogi State recently.

By Adebola Muili

Fidelity Bank Plc has supported more than 1,000 families in Kogi State with essential food items as part of its ongoing efforts to tackle food insecurity and support vulnerable households across Nigeria.

The intervention was carried out at the Youth Centre in Lokoja under the bank’s Fidelity Food Bank Initiative, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme aimed at providing relief to families facing economic hardship.

The Regional Bank Head, North Central II, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Blessing Onwumere, said the initiative was established to reduce hunger, improve the wellbeing of underserved populations and strengthen communities.

Onwumere, who spoke during the distribution exercise, said the Lokoja outreach was more than a food distribution programme, stressing that it was designed to help families build resilience and improve their wellbeing.

“Today’s distribution will provide essential food supplies to over 1,000 beneficiaries. This initiative goes beyond the distribution of food items; it is about uplifting lives, strengthening communities, and supporting families with resources that contribute to their wellbeing and resilience,” she said.

She appreciated the Lokoja community, the Abbasid Foundation and other partners for supporting the initiative.

Since its launch in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank has reached hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries nationwide and contributes to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which focuses on ending hunger.

Also speaking, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, represented by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Faruk, commended Fidelity Bank for what he described as a demonstration of responsible corporate citizenship.

He said the intervention, particularly its support for women and youths, complemented government’s efforts to improve the welfare of citizens.

“We commend Fidelity Bank for extending a helping hand to vulnerable members of our society, particularly women and youths. This is a laudable initiative that complements government’s efforts to improve the welfare of our people,” he said.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, also described the intervention as timely, particularly for young people in the state.

Anyebe, who spoke on behalf of Kogi youths, said the Fidelity Food Bank demonstrated the bank’s commitment to community development and expressed optimism that the partnership would be strengthened to reach more beneficiaries.

A beneficiary, Mrs. Zainab Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the bank, saying the food items would provide meaningful support for her family.

“This is the first time I am receiving this kind of assistance, and I am truly grateful to Fidelity Bank. These food items will go a long way in supporting my family,” she said.

Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving more than 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The bank has received several local and international recognitions, including the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria Innovation Award for MSME support, Best Retail and SME Bank Award from Independent Newspapers, and awards for Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions Awards.