By Louis Iba
EXECUTIVE Director, Lagos and South West Operations at Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, has advised Nigerians to focus more efforts on grow their savings in local banks despite the prevailing tough economic climate in the country.
Onyeali-Ikpe, who spoke at a ceremony to reward customers of the bank who won various prizes in the its just concluded ‘Save for Shelter’ promo held in Lekki, Lagos, recently, stated that Nigerians must continue to save despite the tough times, arguing that a savings account with a bank remains the best way to keep something for the rainy days.
“And there will always be those rainy days when a saving you made in a bank comes in handy. So I urge Nigerians to continue saving,” she added, saying the bank’s ‘Save for Shelter’ was one of the programmes launched to encourage more Nigerians to open and operate savings accounts with local banks.
At the final draws of the promo, Ms. Clara Ibedu, a businesswoman, emerged the winner of a star prize of a four-bedroom duplex in Lekki, Lagos. Three other customers who participated in the promo went home with various consolation prizes, including Mr. Christopher Emode who won N2 million; Godwin Obiorah with N500,000 and Miss Angela Apoesho, who got a Thermocool generator.
“Initially I thought it was a scam when I was called to inform me I had won a four-bedroom duplex in Lekki by the bank,” Ibedu, the star prize winner, said upon being presented with the keys to the house.
“I have to be honest, the day I opened this savings account with Fidelity Bank I did so reluctantly because I came to do one business at one of their branches and they said without owning a savings account they won’t deal with me. And so I opened the account. Today, I give God the glory because that account has now made me a landlady in Lekki. Saving culture with a bank pays, and I want to urge Nigerians to own savings accounts; it has given me a house,” she added.