Foundation, bank empower 500 Delta women to build businesses, support families

The You Matter Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has collaborated with Fidelity Bank PLC, to empower 500 women in Delta State with cash grants, totalling N40 million and equipment worth millions of naira, to enable them build their businesses, support their families and contribute to the development of their communities.

Out of the 500 beneficiaries, who are more of market women, 400 received N100,000 cash grants totalling N40 million, 50 received grinding machines, while another 50 women received sewing machines.

Declaring the distribution exercise open at the Unity Hall of Delta State Government House, Asaba, Tobore Oborevwori, wife of the governor and founder of You Matter Charity Foundation, said that she added N20 million to the N20 million cash donated to the foundation, by the bank to ensure that the 400 women went home with N100,000 instead of the N50,000 they would have got.

While noting that the empowerment formed part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) tagged “Give Her Power”, she explained that the event was not only about distribution. “It is about transformation restoring hope, strengthening families, and building a more inclusive and prosperous society, one woman at a time.

She commended the bank for going beyond banking to touch lives in meaningful and sustainable ways, adding that the initiative clearly demonstrates that when corporate organisations align their resources with social impact, real and lasting change happens.

Oborevwori told the beneficiaries that whether the support was in form of financial grants or equipment that it is a seed and urged them to use the resources wisely to expand their businesses, support their families and contribute meaningfully to their communities

Earlier in a keynote address, Pamela Shodipo, Executive Director (ED) South, Fidelity Bank PLC, on behalf of Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer said that the donation of N20 million to the Foundation was from the the Fidelity Helping Hand Programme.

“The FHHP is a CSR platform, through which our staff across business locations identify projects that address real needs in their immediate communities, raise funds to support those projects, while the bank’s management matches the contribution with an equal amount to ensure stronger and more sustainable impact.

“Alongside the donation, we are also distributing 50 sewing machines and 50 grinding machines to the women in the state under the Give Her Power Initiative, rooted in the belief that empowerment must be practical, inclusive and sustainable”, she stated.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to BusinessDay after being empowered, expressed gratitude to the bank, the Foundation and the State Government, assuring that they would make judicious use of the cash grants and equipment.

Brown Jessica, from Aniocha North Local Government Area, who received grinding machine, said it would boost her food and foodstuff business.