In a vibrant celebration of this year’s Children’s Day, leading financial institution Fidelity Bank Plc unveiled its Read2Lead Anthology—an inspiring collection of essays written by young Nigerians as part of the bank’s flagship literacy initiative.

In a separate development, the bank has been honoured with the Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year award for its outstanding financial performance and strategic growth at the inaugural Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards.

The Children’s Day Celebrations held at the Fidelity Grounds in Oniru, Lagos, with the theme: “The Fidelity Fantasyland 3.0”, drew hundreds of students, parents, and educators. The day was packed with fun-filled activities—from dancing competitions and face painting to arcade games and singing contests—creating lasting memories for the children in attendance.

A major highlight of the celebration was the official launch of the Read2Lead Anthology, which features superhero-themed essays written by 30 outstanding finalists from across the country. The stories, centered on the theme “Naija Superheroes”, showcase the imagination, intellect, and storytelling talent of Nigerian youth.

Managing Director/CEO, of the bank, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, while addressing the audience, applauded the efforts of the more than 3,000 students who participated in the maiden edition of the Read2Lead competition.

“Today is more than just the conclusion of a competition,” she said. “It is a celebration of vision, hard work, and potential. Through Read2Lead, we provided books, writing tools, and opportunities for creative expression to thousands of young Nigerians—helping them to read more deeply, write more clearly, and think more creatively. This initiative reflects our belief that education is one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and shaping the future.”

She described the anthology as “a powerful testament to the promise of Nigeria’s next generation.”

“As you turn the pages of this collection,” Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe continued, “I invite you to see these stories not just as words, but as seeds—seeds of wisdom, leadership, character, and a brighter tomorrow.”

In further celebration of excellence, Fidelity Bank awarded scholarships worth ₦150,000 each to four outstanding pupils—Thiago Chukwudubem Agada, Nabeela Nia Rufai, Victory Alize Chukwuebuka, and Osinachi Olivia Onyeaghala—selected through the Fidelity Savings Loyalty Scheme (FSLS). These awards underscore the bank’s continued commitment to supporting education and rewarding academic dedication.

With laughter, learning, and literary celebration, the Fidelity Fantasyland 3.0 event brought joy and purpose together—leaving children inspired, parents proud, and everyone reminded that investing in the minds of our youth is the surest path to a better future.

The award was organised by Nigeria’s premier financial media platform, Nairametrics, and was launched to recognise individuals, institutions, and policy reforms that have significantly shaped Nigeria’s capital markets. The initiative seeks to spotlight excellence in areas such as regulatory leadership, corporate governance, investment performance, and financial innovation.

“This award is a testament to the tremendous work we are doing at Fidelity Bank—not only in delivering superior service to our customers, but also in driving economic growth and creating sustainable value for all stakeholders.

“We are deeply grateful for this recognition and remain committed to helping individuals grow, businesses thrive, and economies prosper”, said an elated Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe.

The awards ceremony, held on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the Banquet Hall of the Civic Centre in Lagos, drew an esteemed audience, including, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole as well as industry leaders, regulators, media executives, and capital market stakeholders.

Delivering the keynote address, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, underscored the need for continuous evolution in financial markets. “Markets must become more efficient, secure, and innovative to fulfill their promise. In Nigeria, we are committed to building a resilient, inclusive, transparent, and future-ready capital market,” he stated.

Founder/CEO of Nairametrics, Ugo Obi-Chukwu, shared the vision behind the awards, saying, “The Capital Market Choice Awards is our way of reinforcing the core values that sustain a healthy capital ecosystem—trust, performance, and progress.”

Fidelity Bank’s recognition comes on the heels of a stellar 2024 financial year. The bank posted an exceptional 210% growth in Profit Before Tax (PBT), reaching ₦385.2 billion—the largest year-on-year PBT increase recorded in the Nigerian banking industry for the year.

Further demonstrating its leadership, Fidelity Bank spearheaded the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation drive with a highly successful Public Offer and Rights Issue, which were oversubscribed by 237.9per cent and 137.7per cent respectively—solidifying investor confidence in the bank’s strategic direction.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognised as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions BAFI Awards.