Fidelity Bank feeds over 4,500 residents in Osun, donates POS machines to empower local entrepreneurs

In a significant gesture of community support and social responsibility, Fidelity Bank Plc has fed more than 4,500 residents in the Abere and Modakeke communities of Ile-Ife, Osun State, through a two-day Fidelity Food Bank programme, reaffirming its commitment to tackling hunger and empowering underserved Nigerians.

The initiative, carried out in partnership with the Osun State Ministry of Cooperatives and Empowerment and the Esther Adeleke Foundation, focused on distributing essential food items and economic empowerment tools to vulnerable populations across the state.

Speaking at the outreach event, Mrs. Morenike Olabisi, Regional Bank Head, Southwest II, who represented Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank, highlighted the programme’s broader purpose.

“This marks the third Food Bank outreach in Osun State this year, and it aligns with our goal to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger,” said Olabisi. “Beyond food relief, we are also promoting financial inclusion by donating 500 Point of Sale (POS) machines to the Ministry for onward distribution to local residents.”

According to Olabisi, these POS terminals are intended to serve as income-generating assets for families and small-scale entrepreneurs, helping them establish or scale up their businesses.

“Fidelity Bank is not just a financial institution; we are a community partner, and we prioritize the economic and social well-being of our host communities,” she added.

Representing Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Commissioner for Cooperatives and Empowerment, Hon. Bayo Ogungbangbe, lauded Fidelity Bank for its sustained investment in the people of Osun.

“This is a clear example of how corporate organisations can make meaningful impacts. Fidelity Bank has consistently demonstrated care for our people, and we urge others to emulate this model,” he said.

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Erelu Ngozi Adeleke, wife of the Governor and founder of the Esther Adeleke Foundation, described the programme as a critical intervention amid the current economic hardship many Nigerians face.

“This is our second collaboration with Fidelity Bank, following a successful distribution at Asubiaro Hospital in Osogbo,” she explained. “I am passionate about alleviating poverty, and our foundation’s partnership with Fidelity Bank allows us to reach more people in need.”

She also pledged continued support to the bank’s initiatives and reaffirmed her commitment to humanitarian efforts across the state.

Since the launch of the Fidelity Food Bank initiative in April 2023, the programme has touched communities across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. It forms a core part of the bank’s wider Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, aimed at not just short-term relief, but long-term empowerment.

In addition to its CSR milestones, Fidelity Bank has received a string of prestigious awards in 2024.

With over 9.1 million customers, 255 business offices, and a growing international presence via FidBank UK Limited, Fidelity Bank continues to position itself as one of Nigeria’s most socially responsive and forward-looking financial institutions.

As food insecurity and economic pressure persist across the country, efforts like this underscore the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing the immediate needs of citizens while building a foundation for sustainable development and inclusive growth.