The CSR initiative has so far achieved the distribution of over 24,000 Fidelity food packs to communities across the country.

One of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, Fidelity Bank Plc, has distributed over 1,200 food packs at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp at Federal Housing Estate, North Bank in Makurdi, Benue State.

The initiative was executed in partnership with the Hyacinth Alia Foundation and the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BESEMA).

The Divisional Head of Brand and Communications at Fidelity Bank, Mr Meksley Nwagboh, noted that the Fidelity Food Bank, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the lender is designed to reach out to vulnerable persons and reduce the effect of hunger.

“The vision of the bank is to reach out to the less privileged communities through our partner organizations who identify with these communities. In Benue State, we are partnering with the State Government through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)”, Nwagboh stated.

“So, as I speak with you over 24,000 Fidelity food packs have been distributed to communities across the country to help cushion the effect of hunger which has become a global issue” he stated.

Commenting on the initiative, the Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Innovation Strategies, Special Duties, Development, Policy, and Planning, Fidelis Unongo, commended Fidelity Bank for their donation and also appealed to IDPs to exercise patience, noting that the Governor is aware of their requests and is working to ensure that they get settled back to their ancestral homes.

On his part, the Chairman of the IDP Camp, Abraham Tar who spoke in Tiv, commended Fidelity Bank for their kind gesture and promised to ensure that the items donated get to the desired beneficiaries even as he appealed to donors to also look into the health condition of the IDPs, especially women and Children.

Earlier, while taking the team around the tents, which serve as sleeping quarters for the displaced persons, SEMA Executive Secretary, James Iorpuu, told the team that some of the IDPs were widows whose breadwinners had been killed and orphans, who lost both parents to terrorist attacks and were being looked after by fellow displaced persons at the camp.

The SEMA boss said the state government was planning a resettlement program for displaced persons in the state.

Iorpuu said: “We cannot continue keeping these people in the sun and the rain. We want to resettle them back in their homes. As you have provided food for us, we appeal to you to assist us in the resettlement plan too.”