NATIONWIDE! Fidelity Bank elevates young writers via ‘Read2Lead’ initiative

In a bid to champion quality education and empower Nigerian youths, Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, has launched an innovative creative writing competition for secondary school students, titled Read2Lead, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Themed Read2Lead, this three-stage competition aims to foster the development of reading and writing skills among secondary school students while offering them the opportunity to compete for substantial cash rewards, a book publishing deal, and the chance to witness their school library undergo a transformative renovation courtesy of the bank.

At the culmination of the three-stage competition, the star prize winner will receive an impressive N2 million cash prize, a book publishing deal valued at N2 million, and an additional N2 million to enhance their school’s library. The first runner-up will be awarded a cash prize of N1.5 million, while the second runner-up will receive a commendable N1 million.

The inaugural stage of the Read2Lead initiative, known as “The National Writing Showdown,” invites participants from across Nigeria to compete for a coveted spot among the top 150 writers through a creative writing task. Successful students will then progress to the second stage, named “The Sweeta Writing Mastery,” where they will be challenged to craft an alternate ending for one of the selected books they are assigned to read. In the third and final stage, themed “The Author’s Workshop,” the top 30 participants will engage in an immersive writing boot camp. This workshop will be led by seasoned writers and facilitators, who will also play a pivotal role in selecting the top three finalists.

Fidelity Bank’s Read2Lead initiative stands as a testament to the institution’s commitment to nurturing the literary talents of Nigerian youth and fostering a culture of creativity and learning. Through this creative writing competition, the bank aims to inspire the next generation of writers and contribute to the overall educational enrichment of the country.