By IFEANYI OLANNYE

Fidelity Bank Plc, in partnership with the You Matter Foundation, a pet project of the Wife of the Delta Governor, Mrs Tobore Oborevwori, on Tuesday, donated N40 million to 400 market women in the state.

Another set of women also received 50 sewing machines and 50 grinding machines as empowerment package.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 500 beneficiaries were selected from the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.

The gesture formed part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility, under the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP) and Give Her Power (GHP) initiative.

In a keynote address at the venue of the distribution in Asaba, the bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, described the initiative as part of the bank’s “women-focused proposition, known as HerFidelity”.

Onyeali-Ikpe, represented by the Executive Director, South, of the bank, Mrs Pamela Shodipo, lauded the governor’s wife for her leadership role, support and for hosting the event.

According to her, Fidelity bank made a cash donation of N20 million to the foundation, under FHHP.

She said: “The FHHP is a corporate social responsibility platform through which our staff across business locations identify projects that address real needs in their immediate communities, raise funds to support those projects.

“In line with this approach, staff from our branches in Delta raised N10 million for this intervention and the bank’s management matched the fund with equal amount to make it N20 million in accordance with the FHHP policy to deliver meaningful outcomes for the host community.

“Alongside this donation, we are also distributing 50 sewing machines and 50 grinding machines to women in the state under our GHP initiative.

“The GHP is rooted in a belief we hold strongly at Fidelity Bank that empowerment must be practical, inclusive and sustainable.

“When women are empowered economically, the benefits extend beyond the individual to families, small businesses and the wider community.”

Onyeali-Ikpe congratulated the beneficiaries, and charged them to put the cash and equipment into better use to grow their businesses and create value for their communities.

“This support is a vote of confidence in your ability to build a livelihood, grow micro businesses and create value within the communities,” she said.

On her part, the governor’s wife commended the bank for the partnership and empowerment of women in the state.

She announced a donation of additional N20 million to the women, bringing the amount of financial donations to N40 million.

Oborevwori said: “Today, we are here to witness the generosity of Fidelity Bank Plc as they put smiles on the faces of 500 women.

“At least, 400 beneficiaries will receive cash grants, totalling N20 million, 50 women will receive grinding machines, while another 50 women will receive sewing machines.

“On my part, I am adding an additional N20 million.

“This means that 400 women will go home with N100,000 each, instead of the initial N50,000.”

She described the cash and equipment donation as “a seed.

“It is my earnest prayer that you will nurture it, grow it, and allow it to flourish into something greater,” the governor’s wife said.

Also speaking, the Regional Bank Head, (Midwest II), Asaba, Mrs Augusta Anyanwu-Egbom, advised the beneficiaries to explore opportunities in the bank’s small and micro enterprises hub to start, grow their business, develop savings culture and persevere.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke in separate interviews with NAN, thanked the bank and the foundation for the support.

They also expressed their resolve to put the cash and equipment into effective use to grow and nurture their businesses. (NAN)

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