Fidelity Bank distributes palliatives to FCT communities in historic CSR

By James Ajibade//In a bid to strengthen its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fidelity Bank Plc through its Fidelity Food Bank Project has distributed food items to seven communities in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The Executive Director for the North, Fidelity Bank Mr. Sufiyanu Garba while speaking at Mabushi community in Abuja on Thursday during the distribution exercise stated that the gesture was borne out of the need to support underserved communities around them, also a strategy to ensure sustainable development goal 2 which seeks to end hunger in Nigeria.

Garba explained that beyond banking, Fidelity bank is keen at giving back to the communities around them adding that though the bank cannot do all but feedback from their CSR activities has been impactful and impressive to the beneficiaries.

“We’re doing our part as a bank. I know we cannot do everything, but this bit we’re doing, I think it’s a very novel idea every community so far we have gone, the feedback has been excellent people like it.

“I think it is giving back. When you’re giving back to your community, I don’t think the essence is the financial value you will gain. I mean, our satisfaction in Fidelity Bank is that we are supporting the community we deal with. So I would rather call it more of that kind of value, not the financial value we think we are getting.”. he added.

Also speaking, the team lead, CSR of fidelity bank, Victoria Abuka noted that fidelity bank is a socially responsible bank that takes the welfare of communities very seriously adding that Fidelity Food Bank project is one of the bank’s CSR pillars which focuses on health and social welfare.

Abuka explained that the Fidelity Food Bank project is a national project which seeks to ensure that they distribute food materials to underserved communities across the country with its positive impacts mostly on women and children.

“You all know that hunger is a major issue in Nigeria as we speak right now. But my MD CEO saw
this as a visionary leader.
We started this project even before the severity of hunger in 2023. And as we progress, the idea is to ensure that we distribute food materials to underserved communities across the country.

“This same event is happening in Kaduna, Kano, in Niger, Southwest, and North Central. So it is a national project. And what this
has done, you cannot imagine the level of support that it has brought to the underprivileged people in the community, especially women, children.”.

She added that the food distribution
is also in line with the ongoing Ramadan fast to ensure that Muslim brothers and sisters do not go hungry but have food to break their fast.

“We are here today in the spirit of Ramadan. You know that the least you can do is to at least have food to eat. As you are praying, you should have food to eat.
Nobody should go hungry in the period of Ramadan. we are here to felicitate with our Muslim brothers and sisters. And we are replicating this, just like I told you, in all communities in the North.For the period of Ramadan and beyond.”.

Expressing his appreciation, District Head of Mabushi Community, Mr. Hassan Danagna stated that fidelity bank’s gesture to the communities is the first of its kind having provided food items to them adding that he will henceforth create a customer relationship between the communities and the bank.

” I’m so excited I’m overwhelmed, this is the first of its kind that a bank is coming to our aid. When they intimated me of this program, I extended the hand of Fidelity to
other communities, not only Mabuchi. And you can see to yourself that about six communities are here, plus Mabuchi making it seven.

“This is worth recommending. So I want to thank them for what
they are doing, what they have extended to us and I would create a relationship between the community and the bank henceforth”.

One of the beneficiaries, Mukhtar Mohamed after receiving the food items expressed his gratitude and promised to open an account with fidelity bank.

“I feel very okay. I feel well and by the special grace of God, I will open an account with Fidelity Bank today or tomorrow.”. he stated.

Items distributed included indomie, rice and garri.