By Chidimma Oparaochaekwe
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to community wellbeing and cultural preservation with the distribution of 2,000 food packs to selected beneficiaries in Onitsha, Anambra State, as part of activities marking the 2026 Ofala Festival of the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
The annual Ofala Festival celebrates the reign of the Obi of Onitsha and showcases the kingdom’s cultural traditions through colourful displays, traditional dances and royal ceremonies.
The outreach, held under the bank’s Fidelity Food Bank initiative, formed part of its sponsorship of the annual cultural celebration and reflects its continued efforts to alleviate hunger, support vulnerable households and promote sustainable development across its host communities.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, Regional Bank Head, Onitsha, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ozioma Anyanonu, described the initiative as an opportunity for the bank to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha while making a tangible difference in the lives of its people.
“As a Bank, we recognise that the prosperity of any community is closely connected to the wellbeing of its people. Through the Fidelity Food Bank, we are supporting families, easing the burden of feeding and strengthening the resilience that enables communities to move forward,” he said.
Highlighting the impact of the initiative, Anyanonu disclosed that since its establishment in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank has distributed over 300,000 food packs to Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones of the country, contributing to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).
“Today, we are pleased to extend this initiative to the Ofala Festival with the distribution of 2,000 food packs to selected beneficiaries. This is our way of sharing in the joy of the festivities while contributing tangibly to the wellbeing of the Onitsha people,” he added.
Reflecting on the festival’s theme, “Igba Mbo, Iga N’Iru” (Strive and Advance: From Resilience to Progress), Anyanonu noted that it aligns with Fidelity Bank’s commitment to empowering communities and creating opportunities for sustainable progress.
“The theme reminds us that meaningful progress is built on resilience and collective effort. We are proud to celebrate the rich heritage of Onitsha while supporting the people whose shared values and traditions sustain this remarkable community,” he stated.
Anyanonu also expressed appreciation to His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, and the Onitsha community for their warm reception and commitment to preserving their cultural heritage, while acknowledging the bank’s partners for facilitating the outreach.
Launched in April 2023, the Fidelity Food Bank is one of the bank’s flagship corporate social responsibility initiatives, focused on tackling hunger and malnutrition while supporting communities affected by food insecurity. Since then, it has distributed more than 300,000 food packs to beneficiaries across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine.
Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
