Fidelity Bank distributes 2,000 food packs to vulnerable Abuja households

By Adebola Muili

Fidelity Bank Plc has distributed 2,000 food packs to vulnerable households in Abuja as part of efforts to tackle hunger and alleviate poverty through its partnership with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

The intervention was announced at an event held recently in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, represented by its Divisional Head of Public Sector, Richard Madiebo, said the bank’s commitment to poverty reduction extended beyond food distribution to entrepreneurship support and other empowerment programmes aimed at promoting economic independence.

She said the bank recognised the importance of private sector participation in addressing poverty and promoting inclusive development, noting that its corporate social responsibility initiatives were designed to respond to the needs of its host communities.

“Fidelity Bank has always aligned its CSR programmes with the needs of its host communities. We understand the importance of private sector participation in addressing poverty and promoting inclusive development,” she said.

Onyeali-Ikpe disclosed that the bank had delivered 2,000 food packs to residents of Abuja, adding that discussions were ongoing with the ministry on other areas of collaboration.

She said Fidelity Bank’s commitment to community development spanned approximately three decades, reflecting its longstanding dedication to improving the wellbeing of communities where it operates.

Launched in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank is one of the bank’s flagship corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at combating hunger and malnutrition, particularly in communities affected by food insecurity.

Since its introduction, the programme has facilitated the distribution of more than 300,000 food packs to beneficiaries across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, commended Fidelity Bank for supporting efforts to improve the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.

He called for stronger collaboration between the government and private sector, stressing that addressing multidimensional poverty required coordinated interventions to expand economic opportunities and promote inclusive development.

Doro said about 63 per cent of Nigeria’s population lived in multidimensional poverty, noting that the situation had significant implications for economic participation and business growth.

“When 63 per cent of the population lives in multidimensional poverty, a substantial number of people are excluded from economic participation. This also means that businesses are unable to reach a large segment of their potential customers,” he said.

The minister explained that the ministry was committed to building partnerships with private sector organisations to create opportunities for more Nigerians to participate in productive economic activities.

He urged stakeholders to move beyond declarations and ensure that poverty reduction initiatives delivered measurable and sustainable improvements in the lives of vulnerable households.