In furtherance of its quest to improve the wellbeing of communities where it does business, Fidelity Bank Plc, one of the nation’s highly diversified financial institutions, in strategic partnership with Gazelle Academy and Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, has empowered 500 Nigerian with top-notch entrepreneurial skills.

The programme, which is part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, is strategically aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with skills and capabilities needed to take advantage of available opportunities to drive socio-economic development.

Speaking at the launch of the five-day youth empowerment programme held in Kebbi State, Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, pointed out that the programme seeks to empower the Polytechnic community by creating a new generation of business owners amongst students.

Okonkwo, who was represented by Abdulrahman Ibrahim, Branch Leader, Sokoto Strategic Business Unit (SBU), Fidelity Bank Plc, said that the programme was strategically designed to promote Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) growth by encouraging students from tertiary institution to become self-reliant in different aspects of entrepreneurship. Ibrahim further explained that students will receive requisite training in various stages by the consultants throughout the duration of the exercise. He said that the students will be trained on Fish Farming, Tailoring, Stoning, Makeup and Bread Making, further explaining that the exercise provided students with knowledge and first-hand experience on the above-mentioned vocational skills. According to him, the skills acquisition programme was the first of its kind to be organised by the financial institution in the Northern part of the country.

However, the maiden edition of the programme which held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, recorded huge successes as it left an indelible mark on the lives of the students who participated in the week-long event.

Depending on area the trainees received training, Ibrahim noted that the bank will determine what sort of assistance to offer them at end of the programme. “Well, depending on which area they specialise on, we will now sit and think of what to offer them, its giving back to the society where we work,” he said. Ultimately, participants will receive start-up packs and will also be privileged to access funding for their businesses through Fidelity Bank.

The Commissioner of Higher Education, Alhaji Maigari Abdullahi who represented the State Governor at the event, commended the organisers for the event while restating the commitment of State Government in promoting vocational education in the state.

•Photo shows Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo.

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