Fidelity Bank Plc’s “Save4Shelter” promotion has produced winners in its first monthly draw held in Lagos, at the weekend.
 
The reward, which is part of the bnk’s commitment towards bridging the housing deficit in Nigeria, had winners emerge at the electronic selection exercise, which took place at the Fidelity Bank’s Head Office, in Lagos.
 
Some winners, who could not emerge in the star prize category, had consolation prize of generating set.
 
These were Emmanuel Lilian Adaku from Ota branch, Grace Kadiru from Zaria, Obinna Stanley Agbah from Port-Harcourt, Aneke Chinelo Loretha, Ogunba Amanda Jessica and Adekoya Afeez Adewale.
 
For the consolation prize of fridge, Ife Oluwa, Chiazana Keneth Jessica from Kaduna, Christian Lebaton from River State University of Science and Technology, Oyeagbo Peter Chukwuemeka, Hannah Effiong and Ogechukwu Williams.
 
However, in the N500,000 category, six winners emerged- Isienyi Noel Chidebere from Iworo Ibadan branch; Herinata Ejiro Joyce from University of Maiduguri; Amorighoye Neville from Airport Road, Warri branch; Okunsebor Blessing  from Enugu; Florence Chinyere Okoye; and Ifeanyi Ben Ani.
   
The highpoint of the draw was the emergence of two prize winner of N1 million each-John Tomipre Attah from Port-Harcourt and a joint account holder Idoko Alphosus Nwankwo and Chinelu, while the star prize winner of N2 million was Omowunmi Iyiola Abraham from Ikorodu.
 
The Head, Consumer Protection Council, Lagos, Joshua Nggada, was present during the draw to ensure the transparency of the process.
 
But the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo, who expressed concerned over the low level knowledge of savings culture in Nigeria, said the initiative, besides increasing awareness on the need to acquire a savings culture, is also a veritable instrument for advancing the quest for financial inclusion in the country.
 
According to him, the overriding consideration is to improve the saving culture of our people and to increase financial inclusion because a lot of people don’t even have a bank account.
 
He said that if the promo is the only way to encourage them to start saving, even by starting with a saving account, the bank would have achieved something that is very important for economic development.
 
“We are very focused on increasing financial inclusion. We want a lot of people to come in and formalise banking arrangement rather than keeping money at home. We want people to save part of what they earn and also encourage the habit of savings,” he said.