...Donates 1,000 Solar-Powered Bags to Pupils Across Ogun State
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| L–R: Hon. Ayotunde Lawal, Special Adviser, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ogun State; Mr. Mustapha Samuel, Director of Cooperative Services, Ogun State; Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc; Her Excellency, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State; Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, Ogun State Commissioner for Education; Dr. Ken Opara, Executive Director, Lagos & South West; and Mr. Sufiyanu Garba, Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank Plc—at the launch of the Fidelity Solar-Powered School Bags in Abeokuta, Ogun State. |
In a bold move to improve access to quality education and promote sustainable development, Fidelity Bank Plc has launched its “Lighting Young Minds” initiative with the donation of 1,000 solar-powered school bags to public primary school pupils across Ogun State.
The initiative was unveiled during a special event in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and is part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment to addressing educational inequality, particularly in underserved communities facing power shortages.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, reiterated the bank’s belief in education as a transformative force for national development.
“At Fidelity Bank, we see education not just as a means of knowledge transfer, but as a powerful bridge to opportunity,” she said.
“Through our SWEETA initiative, these solar-powered bags will enable children to study safely at night—without resorting to candles or kerosene lamps, which pose serious health and safety risks.”
Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe further highlighted the bank’s broad-based educational support strategy, including: The SWEETA School Fees Support Initiative, which has disbursed over ₦8 billion in tuition support; The Read2Lead Writing Competition, which has impacted more than 3,000 students nationwide; Back-to-School Loans and Fidelity EduLoans, supporting both parents and school infrastructure and the Green Energy Financing Program, which promotes sustainable energy use in educational institutions.
The solar-powered bags, distributed across all 20 local government areas in Ogun State, were officially presented by Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe and Her Excellency, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State.
Commending the bank’s innovation and social impact, Mrs. Abiodun described the initiative as a timely intervention for child development and foundational learning.
“This project addresses a real challenge for pupils in communities with limited electricity. It is a practical innovation with profound impact—keeping children in school and helping them thrive,” she noted. “It also aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education.”
She urged other private sector players to emulate Fidelity Bank’s leadership in sustainable social investment.
The “Lighting Young Minds” initiative underscores Fidelity Bank’s dedication to bridging opportunity gaps for future generations through inclusive, forward-thinking, and socially responsible solutions.
Ranked among Nigeria’s best-performing banks, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank, serving over 10 million customers through its digital banking platforms, 255 business offices, and UK-based subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The bank is a proud recipient of several local and international awards, including:
- 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay BAFI Awards
- 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application by Global Business Outlook
- 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider by Global Brands Magazine
- Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by Euromoney Awards for Excellence
- Export Financing Bank of the Year by BusinessDay BAFI Awards