Fidelity Bank, Njikota Igbo Daughters Association to collaborate on women empowerment

Igbo women group, Njikota Igbo Daughters Association Lagos have initiated discussions with Fidelity Bank on a partnership and collaboration for the implementation of series of skill and capacity development programmes for women.

Hundreds of women especially those in rural communities, young women, the less-privileged and vulnerable women such as widows, single mothers and female children would be empowered when the partnership is firmed up.

President of Njikota Igbo Daughters Association Lagos, Chief (Mrs.) Lilian Amakor, disclosed this when she led a 20-member delegation comprising officers and members of the association on a courtesy visit to the regional headquarters of Fidelity Bank at Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday, August 4. She said the visit was the first step towards consummating the partnership with the bank.

She disclosed that the beneficiaries would be supported through sponsorship and provision of free capacity-building trainings and skill acquisition in numerous vocations like tailoring, fashion design, beauty and make-up, hat making, and tie and dye among others.

Mrs. Amakor added that women-owners of small businesses would also receive grants and other financial support to boost and expand their businesses, in addition to providing mentoring for all the categories of beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme.

She commended Fidelity Bank for being a women-friendly organisation, stressing that the appointment of a female managing director, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe and the creation of banking products tailored towards women and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were good initiatives to boost the chances of women.

The Igbo women’s group leader stated that Njikota Igbo Daughters Association was formed in the Federal Capital Territory in 2017, as the umbrella association of Igbo daughters at home and in the Diaspora with the key objectives of promoting the harmonisation, unity and empowerment of women from Igbo-speaking states and communities in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers for increased relevance in nation-building and sustainable development.

‘‘NID Association has membership of about 20,000 worldwide and 5,000 in the South-west including Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos. One of the aims and objectives of the association is to emerge as a women-based movement to unite and empower Igbo daughters to make a better nation where the voices and strength of Igbo daughters will be heard, felt and be relevant in the affairs of our nation Nigeria,’’ she said.

Mrs. Amakor stated further that the association also sought to ‘‘emerge as the champion of overall empowerment and development of Igbo women/girls; provide training and development for rural women especially widows and the less-privileged single mothers.’’

‘‘NID Association provides a platform for networking and collaboration with other ethnic women groups and organisations (local and international) for sustainable women development and empowerment. We also seek to canvass for increased opportunities for Igbo and other ethnic women groups for professional and overall personal development of women in general,’’ she said.

She added that the Lagos chapter was created in 2021 for uplifting Igbo women in the Lagos and South-west region on one hand and women generally, while stating that a First Lady and prominent women of Igbo extraction who were married to men from the region were among its members.

The Igbo women’s group leader stated that one of the recent projects undertaken by the national body of the association was the award of scholarships to some indigent students.

Mrs. Amakor announced that Njikota Igbo Daughters Association Lagos chapter would be formally inaugurated in September, and solicited the bank’s support and sponsorship for the event.

Welcoming the delegation, Fidelity Bank’s Divisional Head, Sales, Mr. Osita Ede, thanked them for choosing to partner with the bank while assuring them of its full support.

The bank’s Group Head, Managed Small and Medium Enterprises, Mrs. Esther Obiekwe, who in company with four other staff members had an audience with the association, commended it for being passionate about women empowerment, stating that the proposed partnership aligned with the bank’s commitment to women development.

‘‘We are a bank that is particular about women. Anything that concerns women, we don’t shy away from it. We are passionate about women; we have a product created for women. We also have a good community of women at Fidelity Bank. We welcome your team and we would be glad to hear from you to know more about the association; some of the things you have done and doing to support women, and your expectation from the bank,’’ she stated.

Obiekwe, while affirming the bank’s readiness to support any worthy initiative that could create opportunities for more women to grow and optimise their potential, stressed that the era of relegating women to the background was long gone.

She said, ‘‘At Fidelity Bank, we recognise the important role that women play in nation-building and the value of their contribution to both the economic development of the nation and the well-being of the families. We are happy at what your association is doing by advocating increased inclusion for more women.’’