FIDELITY BANK BOOSTS LEARNING IN PLATEAU STATE WITH DONATION OF 600 SCHOOL PACKS TO PUPILS

FIDELITY BANK BOOSTS LEARNING IN PLATEAU STATE WITH DONATION OF 600 SCHOOL PACKS TO PUPILS
By prince Benson Davies

Fidelity Bank Plc has reinforced its commitment to education and community development by distributing back-to-school packs to over 600 pupils across Plateau State. The initiative, executed under the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility framework, targeted schoolchildren selected from all 17 Local Government Areas of the state in a move to ease the burden on parents and motivate pupils ahead of the new academic session.

The outreach was held in Jos and coordinated by staff of the bank’s University of Jos Branch through the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme. The FHHP is a staff-led intervention model where employees identify pressing community needs and mobilize funds to address them. Fidelity Bank’s management matches staff contributions to scale the impact of each project. For this intervention, each of the 600 beneficiaries received a branded school bag containing exercise books, pens, pencils, a mathematical set, and a reusable water bottle.

Speaking during the presentation, Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, said the bank views education as a cornerstone of sustainable national development. He explained that supporting children at the foundational level builds the confidence and skills they need to become productive citizens. Nwagboh added that Fidelity Bank’s CSR approach prioritizes long-term value, with education-focused projects designed to create measurable social impact. He encouraged the pupils to take their studies seriously, noting that Nigeria’s future depends on well-educated and purpose-driven young people.

Shunom Leo, Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank, University of Jos Branch, whose team initiated the project, described the donation as a deliberate investment in Plateau State’s future. Leo stated that beyond providing learning materials, the gesture sends a message to the children that their dreams matter and that the larger society is invested in their success. He reaffirmed Fidelity Bank’s commitment to projects that improve lives, strengthen communities, and support access to quality education nationwide.

Representing the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms. Caroline Dafur, praised Fidelity Bank and the Plateau State Sustainable Development Goals office for the intervention. Dafur described the distribution of school bags and learning materials as a strategic investment in the future of Plateau children, not merely an act of charity. She reiterated the state government’s focus on education, healthcare, social protection, and child welfare, and called for more public-private partnerships to accelerate development outcomes across the state.

In her remarks, Mrs. Nanbam Danjuma-Lot, Project Coordinator of the Plateau State SDGs, commended Fidelity Bank for collaborating with the agency to impact children’s lives. She noted that partnerships of this nature demonstrate how joint action can address critical social challenges. Danjuma-Lot said Fidelity Bank had shown strong leadership by investing in the next generation and urged other corporate organizations to contribute meaningfully to their host communities.

Also speaking, Mr. Sunday Amuna, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board, said the intervention lays a solid foundation for the beneficiaries’ academic journey. Amuna stressed that the strength of any structure depends on its foundation, adding that the support from Fidelity Bank will help stabilize the future of the pupils. He thanked the bank for a timely and impactful contribution to basic education in the state.

The outreach was inclusive, with physically challenged children with varying degrees of disability among the beneficiaries. This aligns with Fidelity Bank’s position on equal opportunity and its commitment to ensuring no child is left behind in access to learning support.

Through the FHHP and other community initiatives, Fidelity Bank continues to advance its mandate of empowering communities, supporting education, and driving sustainable development across Nigeria.

Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, 255 business offices in Nigeria, and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited. The bank is widely recognized for excellence in retail, SME, export, and trade finance services. Recent honors include the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria Innovation Award for MSME support, Best Retail and SME Bank Award from Independent Newspapers, Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay BAFI Awards, Nigeria’s Best Private Bank at the 2025 Euromoney Awards, Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year by Nairametrics; SME Bank of the Year by NewsDirect, and the Straight-Through Processing Excellence Award by Citi Group, alongside recognition by Global Brands Magazine for Excellence in Community Empowerment.

Photo caption:
L-R: Mrs. Nanbam Danjuma-Lot, Project Coordinator, Plateau State Sustainable Development Goals; Mr. Shunom Leo, Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank University of Jos Branch; Ms. Caroline Dafur, Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development; Hon. Sunday Amuna, Executive Chairman, Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board; Mr. Saje Joseph, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Plateau State Ministry of Education; and Mrs. Victoria Abuka, Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility, Fidelity Bank Plc; during the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme Back-to-School outreach in Plateau State.