CITIZENS COMPASS— Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reinforced its commitment to strengthening quality education and promoting a culture of reading among young Nigerians, with the donation of a reconstructed and fully equipped library to Community Junior Secondary School, Olanada, Rumola area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The project was executed under the bank’s Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), a staff-driven Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative through which employees identify impactful projects within their communities and contribute towards their execution, with the bank matching the funds raised by staff.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Group Head, Compliance Risk Management, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Charles Chukwu, said the project was inspired by the need to provide students with an enabling environment for learning, reading and personal development.
“Through the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme, we have transformed an existing classroom into a modern library equipped with reading furniture, bookshelves and a workstation for the librarian. This project reflects the commitment of Fidelity Bank to supporting quality education and creating meaningful impact within the communities where we operate,” he said.
Chukwu noted that education remains a key focus of the bank’s CSR interventions, adding that Fidelity Bank has implemented several initiatives aimed at improving learning outcomes and creating opportunities for young people.
“Under our Education CSR pillar, the bank has renovated classrooms and libraries, provided desks and learning materials, supported financial literacy programmes and implemented the Read2Lead initiative to promote reading and creative writing among young Nigerians,” he stated.
Chukwu urged the students to take full advantage of the new facility and maximise the opportunities it provides.
“Education builds confidence, expands opportunity and empowers young people to shape a better future. This library has been provided to aid their growth. I encourage all students to read broadly, study diligently and allow the knowledge gained here to strengthen character and prepare you all for the future,” Chukwu said.
He added, “The success of this project will not be measured by the beauty of the facility today. It will be measured by the number of students whose minds it enriches, the dreams it inspires and the condition in which it is handed to future generations.”
In his remarks, the school’s Principal, Comrade Marcus Numbarabari, described the donation as a remarkable development for the school community and expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank for the initiative.
“We sincerely appreciate Fidelity Bank for this laudable intervention. This library is more than a facility; it is an investment in the future of our students. We are confident that it will encourage them to read more, learn better and develop the knowledge and skills needed to excel academically and in life. We assure the Bank that the facility will be properly protected, maintained and put to good use for the benefit of present and future students,” he said.
Also speaking, the Supervising Director, Obio-Akpor Local Government Education Authority, Mr. Amadi Iwai Christopher, commended Fidelity Bank for complementing the government’s efforts in providing and equipping educational facilities.
“On behalf of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, I commend Fidelity Bank for investing in the educational development of our children. This is the kind of partnership that can help bridge gaps in our education system, and we encourage other corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to contribute meaningfully to the development of education across our communities,” he said.
Representing the school’s Parents Teachers Association (PTA), the Vice Principal (Academic), Mrs. Wobo Okechiyere, commended Fidelity Bank, noting that the new library would encourage students to read and enhance their academic development.
The school’s Senior Prefect, Master Donald Nelson, expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank on behalf of the students and assured the bank that the facility would be put to judicious use.
The Fidelity Helping Hands Programme is one of Fidelity Bank’s employee-led CSR initiatives through which staff identify and support impactful community projects, with corresponding contributions from the Bank’s management. The programme forms part of the Bank’s broader commitment to driving sustainable social impact across its host communities.
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.
