Fidelity Bank Plc has so far trained over 3,000 undergraduates from various tertiary institutions on various skills through its youth empowerment programme.
The managing director and chief executive of the bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, revealed this during the closing ceremony of the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy (FYEA) held at the Sokoto State University (SSU) in Sokoto.
The head, corporate communications of the bank, Mr. Ejike Ndiulo said in a statement that Okonkwo who was represented by the head, corporate social responsibility and sustainability, Mr. Chris Nnakwe stated that the students were drawn from the five institutions that have benefitted from the banks youth empowerment initiative that aims to teach vocational and entrepreneurship skills.
The managing director further said the empowerment programme was organised as part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility intervention adding that the programme which is now in its seventh edition “seeks to empower the Nigerian undergraduate with skills and enterprise training, which are relevant for self-reliance.
He stated that the skills acquisition programmed had been held in various higher institutions including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Waziri Umar Federal Polytechnic, Birnin-Kebbi; Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State; Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt; Bayero University, Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
He called on Nigerian youths to embrace entrepreneurship and create wealth for themselves instead of searching endlessly for non-existing paid jobs.
For the Sokoto edition, Okonkwo stated the bank had expanded the scope of the programme in a bid to accommodate new areas of vocational training.
Apart from the typical training on tailoring and make-up, he said participants were also provided with requisite skills and first-hand knowledge in fashion designing, cloth embellishment, cocktail and phone engineering among others.
“We in Fidelity Bank have targeted programmes on education, environment and youth empowerment. This one you are witnessing today is part of fulfilling our promises to the society,” he said.
He explained that the participants were trained to acquire skills to enable them become self-reliant and also make them employers of labour even while in school.
He called on Nigerian youths to embrace entrepreneurship and create wealth for themselves instead of searching endlessly for non-existing paid jobs.
Speaking earlier at the opening ceremony, the governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal, thanked the bank for choosing the school for the programme.
The governor said as a responsible government his administration prioritised the welfare of the youths in the state.
