Fidelity Bank, Nonye Soludo Empower 200 Women, Distribute Solar School Bags to 250 Anambra Pupils
Fidelity Bank Plc, in partnership with Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, has empowered 200 women in Anambra State with sewing and grinding machines as part of efforts to improve livelihoods and promote economic self-reliance.
The partners also distributed 250 solar-powered smart school bags to students across the state under the Lighting Young Minds Initiative, designed to support learning and inspire academic excellence among schoolchildren.
Of the beneficiaries, 100 women received sewing machines, while another 100 were presented with grinding machines to help them establish sustainable sources of income and improve their standard of living.
The empowerment programme was held on Saturday at the Banquet Hall, Lighthouse, Awka.
Speaking at the event, the founder of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo and wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr Mrs Nonye Soludo, said the gathering was not merely about distributing items or celebrating another social intervention but about reaffirming the belief that investing in people is investing in the future.
“Every woman empowered, every child supported, and every family assisted represents a step towards building a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous Anambra State. It is this belief that brings us together today under this remarkable partnership between Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo and Fidelity Bank Plc,” she said.
Dr Soludo disclosed that, in addition to the empowerment items and school bags, 1,500 individuals would benefit from the programme’s Food Bank Packs.
“In all, 1,950 beneficiaries will be directly impacted by this intervention, and that is indeed a cause for celebration,” she said.
She noted that the event underscored the importance of partnership and shared responsibility in addressing societal challenges.
“What makes today’s event even more significant is that it reflects the power of partnership and shared responsibility. Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo is a non-governmental movement founded on the conviction that healthy people build healthy communities, and healthy communities build prosperous societies.
“As an NGO, we do not receive government funding for our programmes and interventions. Our work is sustained through goodwill, strategic collaborations, and the support of organisations and individuals who share our passion for improving lives.
“This is why partnerships such as the one we celebrate today are not only valuable but essential. They enable us to reach more people, expand our interventions, and deliver meaningful solutions to the challenges facing our communities. Our dreams are big, but our resources remain limited.” she said.
According to her, the confidence partners place in the organisation is rooted in the measurable impact its programmes continue to make across Anambra State.
She said that through the Healthy Living Pad Bank Programme, which serves schoolgirls in the 350 schools where Healthy Living School Clubs operate, more than 350,000 sanitary pads have been distributed over the past two years. The initiative, she added, has helped thousands of girls manage their menstrual health with dignity and confidence while improving school attendance.
Dr Soludo further stated that the Living Seed Packs Programme has distributed more than 25,000 packs of free hybrid non-GMO seeds to households, schools and communities, encouraging home gardening, promoting organic food consumption, improving household nutrition, and creating opportunities for small-scale agricultural enterprises.
“Our Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap Initiative has become one of the state’s most impactful nutrition interventions, with over 25,000 packs distributed through the 326 Primary Health Centres across Anambra State. This has contributed to a historic 57 per cent reduction in the state’s malnutrition shortfall,” she added.
The governor’s wife commended Fidelity Bank for aligning with the vision of improving residents’ wellbeing and investing in people-centred development.
According to her, beyond the empowerment items distributed at the event, the bank was investing in human potential, family stability, and community development.
She said the partnership demonstrated the critical role socially responsible organisations can play in advancing sustainable development and improving quality of life.
“We are grateful for this support, for your confidence in our mission, and for your commitment to touching lives where it matters most. Indeed, you keep your word.
“I also appeal to you to continue identifying areas within our programmes where we can work together to achieve even greater impact. Whether in women’s empowerment, agricultural support, education, nutrition, youth development, environmental sustainability, or preventive healthcare, there remain countless opportunities to transform lives through strategic collaboration,” she added.
Congratulating the beneficiaries, Dr Soludo described the items as more than material support, saying they were tools of opportunity, symbols of hope, and investments in the future.
She urged them to make good use of the items, grow their businesses, and become ambassadors of positive change in their communities.
In her remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to social development and community empowerment through initiatives that support vulnerable families, promote education, and enhance women’s economic participation.
She described the event as a landmark intervention that brought together three of the bank’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility programmes on a single platform for the first time.
According to her, Anambra State became the first beneficiary of the convergence of the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative, Lighting Young Minds Programme, and Give Her Power Initiative.
Dr Onyeali-Ikpe said Fidelity Bank’s mission extends beyond financial services, stressing that the institution is dedicated to helping individuals realise their aspirations, overcome challenges, and build better lives.
“Our purpose goes beyond accounts, transactions, and banking services. We believe that when communities thrive, businesses thrive; when families prosper, societies become stronger; and when people are empowered, possibilities become endless.
“This belief continues to drive our commitment to creating meaningful and lasting social impact.”she added.
She explained that through the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative, the bank has continued to provide essential food support to vulnerable households across Nigeria, particularly at a time when many families are grappling with economic hardship.
She stressed that access to food is a fundamental human need and that supporting struggling families helps restore dignity, strengthen resilience, and promote social inclusion.
Speaking on the Lighting Young Minds Programme, the Fidelity Bank CEO said the initiative was designed to improve learning opportunities for children through the distribution of solar-powered school bags.
She explained that the innovative bags provide students with a reliable source of light for studying after dark, especially in communities with limited access to electricity.
“By providing solar-powered school bags, we are equipping young learners with practical tools that can enhance their educational experience. This initiative represents our investment in their intelligence, confidence, and the bright future they embody,” she said.
On women’s empowerment, Dr Onyeali-Ikpe said the Give Her Power Initiative was established to provide women with equipment and resources that enable them to generate income, support their families, and build sustainable livelihoods.
She noted that women remain the backbone of families and communities across Africa and therefore deserve greater opportunities for economic advancement.
“We are not merely distributing equipment; we are creating opportunities, unlocking potential, and investing in brighter futures. Empowered women contribute significantly to stronger families, thriving communities, and sustainable development,” she added.
The bank’s Managing Director described the integration of the three programmes as a holistic approach to development that simultaneously targets children, families, and women while ensuring that no segment of society is left behind.
She commended Mrs Nonye Soludo for her commitment to the welfare of women, children, and vulnerable groups across Anambra State.
According to her, Fidelity Bank is proud to partner with the First Lady in advancing inclusive and people-centred development initiatives that improve residents’ quality of life.
Dr Onyeali-Ikpe further emphasised that lasting social change requires collaboration among government, corporate organisations, and citizens.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, every family deserves the dignity of adequate nutrition, and every woman deserves the opportunity to fulfil her potential.
“Through these initiatives, Fidelity Bank remains committed to building a future where opportunities are more accessible, communities are more resilient, and prosperity is shared by all,” she said.
She thanked participants and partners for supporting the programme and expressed confidence that collective action would continue to create hope, dignity, and opportunities for Nigerians.
Also speaking, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications at Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to education, women’s empowerment, and food security through a range of impactful social intervention programmes.
Nwagboh said Fidelity Bank remains passionate about improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly children and women, through sustainable initiatives that address critical social needs.
He noted that children represent the nation’s future and deserve every opportunity to succeed academically.
According to him, the bank’s flagship educational initiative, Lighting Up Young Minds, was introduced to support students through the provision of innovative solar-powered school bags that enable them to study at night, particularly in communities with inadequate electricity supply.
“We believe that children are not just our future; they are also our present. They embody our hopes and aspirations. Through the Lighting Up Young Minds initiative, we are not only helping students overcome challenges associated with poor electricity supply but also exposing them to innovation and its transformative impact,” he said.
Nwagboh disclosed that the bank donated 250 solar-powered school bags to students in Anambra State under the programme.
Highlighting Fidelity Bank’s commitment to gender inclusion, he said the institution has consistently championed women’s empowerment, noting that women occupy key leadership positions within the bank, including those of Chairman and Managing Director.
He explained that this commitment inspired the Give Her Power Initiative, which seeks to provide women with resources and opportunities to achieve economic independence.
“As a bank, we are committed to empowering women and placing economic power in their hands. Our support goes beyond words; we are taking practical steps to improve livelihoods,” he said.
Nwagboh expressed appreciation to participants and stakeholders for supporting the initiative and reiterated the bank’s commitment to driving social impact through education, empowerment, and humanitarian interventions.
