Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to community development and educational empowerment with the donation of essential learning materials to pupils in the Makoko community of Yaba, Lagos, under its Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP).
The outreach initiative, facilitated by the bank’s Legal Services Division, involved the distribution of school bags, notebooks, mathematical sets, writing materials and other learning aids to pupils of Makoko Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Aiyetoro Nursery and Primary School, and Adekunle Anglican Nursery and Primary School.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Divisional Head of Legal Services at Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Kingsley Ohiri, said the initiative was part of the bank’s broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts aimed at empowering young people, supporting education and improving social welfare in underserved communities.
According to him, the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme is a staff volunteer initiative that enables employees to identify and implement impactful CSR projects within their communities.
“Through this programme, volunteers from the Legal Services Division are in Makoko today to distribute back-to-school materials such as school bags, notebooks, pencils and other essential learning tools. This intervention aligns strongly with one of our core CSR pillars, which is education,” Ohiri said.
He noted that Fidelity Bank places strong emphasis on improving access to quality education for children in public schools, particularly those from indigent backgrounds.
“In total, over 500 school bags, more than 2,000 exercise books and several other learning materials were distributed. We are proud to give back to the Makoko community and believe that by providing pupils with the tools they need to learn, we are helping to build a stronger future for the children, the community and the nation,” he added.
The initiative, aimed at enhancing the learning experience of children in one of Lagos’ most underserved riverine communities, was warmly received by school administrators, teachers and parents.
The Head Teacher of Adekunle Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Tinubu Abimbola, expressed appreciation to the bank, noting that the gesture would significantly improve pupils’ academic performance.
“We sincerely appreciate Fidelity Bank for selecting our school as one of the beneficiaries. This support will go a long way in helping our pupils academically. Recognising students who placed first to tenth in their classes is also a strong motivation for our children,” she said.
Similarly, the School Manager of Makoko Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Mr. Laoye Joseph, described the donation as a profound act of compassion and corporate responsibility.
“Many families here struggle to provide basic learning materials due to economic hardship. This intervention is highly impactful, and we pray that God continues to uplift Fidelity Bank,” he said.
Teachers at the event noted that many pupils often attend classes without basic supplies, which affects participation and learning outcomes. They commended the bank for easing the financial burden on parents amid rising living costs.
Under the FHHP, Fidelity Bank staff identify meaningful community projects and raise funds to support them, with the bank’s management matching the contributions to expand their reach and impact.
Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank serving over 9.1 million customers through its digital banking platforms, 255 business offices nationwide and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The bank has received several local and international awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation and MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay BAFI Awards, the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award by Global Business Outlook, and recognition as Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence, among others.
