MILO has launched a 30-day Ramadan gifting campaign across Northern Nigeria, distributing more than one million sampled cups and essential Iftar items to families observing the holy month.

The initiative targets communities across the region, with over 1,000 cartons of MILO and items such as prayer mats, prayer kettles and plastic buckets donated to support families during Ramadan.

The company says the campaign reflects its commitment to community support during a period defined by charity, reflection and unity.

Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, Category Manager for Beverages at Nestlé Nigeria, said the timing of the initiative was deliberate.

“Executing this initiative during Ramadan reflects our commitment to deepening our connection with our consumers. By providing essential items for Iftar, we are supporting families and aligning our actions with the values of care and compassion,” he said.

According to the company, the donated items will be handed over to 100 religious and community leaders who oversee mosques with an average of 300 worshippers each.

These leaders will coordinate distribution to ensure that families in need receive support.

Sheikh Ibrahim Shehi Mai Hula, Chairman of the Kano State Hisbah Board, welcomed the gesture.

“It’s great to see MILO, a brand we trust, go beyond commercial sales to support those in need during Ramadan. Their donation is helping us reach more people, and we are grateful for their generosity.”

The campaign is supported by brand ambassadors including Nigerian footballer Ahmed Musa, as well as Mansurah Isah and Sulaimon Bosho, who are helping to promote the message of generosity and unity.

Why It Matters

Ramadan is a period when many families increase spending on food and religious obligations, often placing pressure on household budgets.

Corporate-backed food donations can help cushion that burden, especially in communities facing rising living costs.

Northern Nigeria, where the majority Muslim population observes Ramadan, often witnesses increased charitable activities by private companies and faith-based groups.

Beyond Ramadan

MILO, produced by Nestlé, says the campaign forms part of its wider community engagement efforts in Nigeria.

These include initiatives such as MILO Building Champs and school sports programmes aimed at youth development.

The company says it will continue to invest in community-focused projects nationwide.

What’s Next?

Distribution is expected to continue throughout the 30 days of Ramadan, with religious leaders overseeing allocation within their communities.

Company officials say feedback from beneficiaries will inform future outreach initiatives.

Fidelity Bank Plc has donated essential household items to inmates at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos, drawing attention to the growing pressure on Nigeria’s correctional facilities.

The donation was made under the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP).

Bank officials handed over the items to the leadership of the custodial centre during a brief ceremony attended by senior correctional officers and HR executives from the bank.

Why It Matters

Ikoyi Correctional Centre was originally designed to house 800 inmates.

It now holds more than 3,000.

According to Deputy Controller of Corrections, Dr Julius Ogueri, the facility currently has 396 convicted inmates and 3,604 awaiting trial.

The figures highlight Nigeria’s broader criminal justice challenge, where prolonged trials and systemic delays contribute to congestion in custodial centres.

Overcrowding often strains resources, healthcare, sanitation, and rehabilitation programmes.

What Fidelity Bank Said

Speaking at the event, Fidelity Bank’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Mr Charles Nwachukwu, said the bank’s intervention was rooted in empathy and second chances.

“At Fidelity Bank, we believe that every individual deserves a second chance,” he said.

“Our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility is rooted in empathy, standing with communities, uplifting the vulnerable, and opening doors for brighter futures.”

“By supporting inmates today, we are setting them on the true path of rehabilitation, empowering them to return tomorrow as productive and confident members of society.”

The bank explained that under the FHHP initiative, staff across its branches identify community needs and raise funds, which management matches to execute selected projects.

Fidelity Bank serves more than 9.1 million customers through digital platforms, 255 business offices in Nigeria, and its UK subsidiary.

Correctional Authorities React

Dr Ogueri welcomed the donation but used the opportunity to call for broader societal reform.

He urged Nigerians to avoid cybercrime and to stop stigmatising former inmates.

He also stressed the importance of rehabilitation within the prison system.

According to him, 72 inmates are currently studying with the National Open University of Nigeria.

Another 120 inmates have benefited from WAEC and GCE examination support.

“These initiatives show that rehabilitation is possible,” he said, while thanking the bank for its support.

Industry and Public Perspective

Corporate social responsibility efforts in Nigeria’s banking sector have increasingly focused on healthcare, education and small business support.

However, interventions in correctional facilities remain relatively rare.

What’s Next?

Correctional authorities say partnerships with private organisations could expand educational and vocational training programmes.

Advocates also continue to push for faster judicial processes and non-custodial sentencing for minor offences.

For inmates, support programmes may improve reintegration prospects upon release.

For the wider society, successful rehabilitation reduces repeat offences and strengthens community safety.

Fidelity Bank Plc has renovated and handed over a one-storey administrative building to Community Secondary School, Enugwuabo Ufuma, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The project aims to improve access to quality education and address long-standing infrastructural challenges at the school.

The renovated building was formally unveiled during a handover ceremony attended by government officials, community leaders, school administrators and other stakeholders.

Fidelity Bank: ‘This is about opportunity’

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Nosa Orumwense, Regional Bank Head, Fidelity Bank Plc, Awka, said the project reflected the bank’s belief that education is central to long-term development.

“For us at Fidelity Bank, this project represents more than a building. It represents opportunity, progress, and a shared commitment to building a better future for our youths here in Enugwuabo Ufuma and beyond.”

He said improved infrastructure creates a more supportive environment for both teaching and learning.

“By improving the educational infrastructure of this community, we are providing students and teachers with an environment that promotes learning, discipline, and pride.”

State government reaction

The Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who represented Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo, described the renovation as a meaningful example of corporate social responsibility.

“Corporate social responsibility is what gives an organisation its human nature. What Fidelity Bank has done reflects compassion and a genuine commitment to touching lives.”

She said the school had earlier been placed on an emergency list because of the poor condition of its buildings.

“During my last visit, I was genuinely concerned about the safety of both students and teachers. Today, the school wears a new look, thanks to Fidelity Bank’s support.”

The commissioner also expressed the state government’s appreciation.

“We thank Fidelity Bank for this intervention, which clearly demonstrates the true meaning of corporate social responsibility – making tangible impacts that improve lives and strengthen communities.”

What’s next

Fidelity Bank says the project aligns with its wider corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, which focuses on education, community empowerment and long-term socio-economic development across Nigeria.

The bank has indicated that similar interventions may continue in other underserved communities.

About Fidelity Bank

Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial deposit money bank serving more than 9.1 million customers through digital platforms, 255 business offices in Nigeria, and its UK subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The bank has received several local and international awards, including recognition for digital banking innovation, MSME support, investment banking services and export financing.