Fidelity Bank and Humanitarian Affairs Ministry Unite to Address Food Insecurity
Fidelity Bank Plc has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to support vulnerable households in Abuja through its Fidelity Food Bank programme.
The initiative forms part of the bank’s broader community development work, combining immediate food assistance with entrepreneurship support and other empowerment programmes intended to help individuals and families move towards economic independence.
Launched in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank is one of the bank’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. It aims to address hunger and malnutrition in communities affected by food insecurity. Since its launch, more than 300,000 food packs have been distributed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
At an event in Abuja marking the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, represented by Richard Madiebo, the bank’s Divisional Head of Public Sector, said the bank’s support extends beyond food distribution.
Onyeali-Ikpe also noted that the bank’s commitment to community development spans approximately three decades, reflecting its longstanding focus on the wellbeing 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.
“We have delivered 2,000 food packs to residents of Abuja. There are several other initiatives that the ministry and the bank are discussing, and we will allow the ministry to provide further details at the appropriate time,” she said.
The partnership reflects the role businesses can play alongside government in responding to community needs. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, commended Fidelity Bank for contributing to efforts to improve the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians and called for stronger public- and private-sector collaboration to tackle multidimensional poverty.
Doro said that with 63 per cent of Nigeria’s population living in multidimensional poverty, many people remain excluded from economic activity—a challenge that also affects businesses’ access to potential customers and employees.
“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.
“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. We are pleased that Fidelity Bank is fully committed to this effort,” Doro stated.
The minister urged stakeholders to ensure that poverty reduction initiatives lead to measurable and lasting improvements in the lives of vulnerable households.
Fidelity Bank serves more than 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, 255 business offices in Nigeria and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited. The bank has received local and international recognition, including awards for digital transformation and MSME banking, its Fidelity Mobile App and investment banking services. It has also been recognised by Euromoney as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria and by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards as Export Financing Bank of the Year.
