Jubilation as Fidelity Bank, Soludo’s wife empower 1,950 women,

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Tears of joy rolled down the cheeks of some indigent Anambra women, last weekend, as Fidelity Bank Plc, in partnership with Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, empowered over 200 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.

The empowerment programme was held 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.

She said that the confidence partners place in the organisation is rooted in the measurable impact its programmes continue to make across Anambra State. She added 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 percent 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. She said that beyond the empowerment items distributed at the event, the bank was investing in human potential, family stability, and community development.

She further 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.

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. She said that 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.

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.

One of the beneficiaries, Felicia Amangboh, expressed gratitude to Mrs Soludo for her caring heart and passion towards touching lives positively.