Fidelity Bank Plc has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to provide food support to vulnerable households in Abuja under its Food Bank programme.
The intervention, which involved the distribution of 2,000 food packs, was part of activities marking the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Launched in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank is one of the bank’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives aimed at combating hunger and malnutrition among communities affected by food insecurity.
Since its introduction, the programme has distributed more than 300,000 food packs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, represented by the bank’s Divisional Head of Public Sector, Richard Madiebo, said the bank’s commitment to poverty reduction went beyond food distribution.
She said the bank also supported entrepreneurship and other empowerment programmes designed to help individuals and families achieve economic independence.
According to her, Fidelity Bank’s community development interventions span nearly three decades and reflect its commitment to improving the welfare 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 added that the bank was discussing other collaborative initiatives with the ministry, which would be announced at the appropriate time.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, commended the bank for supporting efforts to improve the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.
He called for stronger government-private sector collaboration, noting that 63 per cent of Nigeria’s population lives in multidimensional poverty.
Doro said the high poverty rate had excluded many Nigerians from economic participation, limiting businesses’ access to potential customers and workers.
“Our responsibility as a ministry is to unlock partnerships with the private sector. Such collaboration is critical to expanding economic opportunities and bringing more people into productive economic activities,” he said.
The minister urged stakeholders to move beyond public commitments and ensure that poverty reduction programmes deliver measurable and sustainable improvements in the lives of vulnerable households.
Fidelity Bank Plc serves more than 9.1 million customers through its digital banking channels and 255 business offices in Nigeria, as well as its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
