CHUKWUDI IWUCHUKWU
A decade ago, Fidelity Bank made a bold bet on Allen Onyema and his Air Peace brand, even when most banks refused to engage with the airline. At that time, Air Peace was small, not the giant airline it is today. But despite the hesitations of other banks, Fidelity Bank took the risk and chose to stand by Allen Onyema.
From the beginning, Fidelity Bank believed in the potential of Air Peace. They provided essential funding, including securing deals that allowed the airline to purchase new aircraft from Boeing. This wasn’t just small-scale support—at times, the sums involved reached up to $1 billion. Yet, no matter the amount, Fidelity Bank was there, ensuring that the transactions went ahead and that Air Peace could continue its rapid growth.
One notable instance of this partnership was when Allen Onyema signed an agreement with Boeing for the acquisition of 10 new aircraft. Fidelity Bank stepped up to provide the necessary financing, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the success of Air Peace.
Today, Air Peace has scaled up, becoming the largest airline in West Africa. The company has far outgrown its humble beginnings, but Allen Onyema has never forgotten the loyalty and support that Fidelity Bank provided when others chose to look away. Even with countless banking options available to him today, Onyema continues to bank with Fidelity, showing the strength of the relationship that has been built over the years.
When it comes to cash flow, Air Peace is unmatched in Nigeria. According to unofficial estimates, the airline generates between 50 and 100 million naira in daily turnover. Naturally, banks are eager to work with businesses boasting such impressive liquidity, but despite numerous pitches from other banks, Allen Onyema remains loyal to Fidelity.
The story of Fidelity Bank and Air Peace teaches an important lesson: Invest in people. Build relationships. Take a chance on promising individuals, even when it isn’t the easy or obvious choice. In doing so, you may contribute to someone’s success story in ways that pay back tenfold in the future.
I’ve witnessed the power of investing in people firsthand. In 2016, I met a young man named Gaius Chibueze on Allen Avenue, Ikeja. At the time, Gaius was just starting to make a name for himself, known for visiting his Facebook friends in the news. I decided to share his story on my platform, @tvauthorityng, not expecting anything in return.
Eight years later, Gaius continues to shower me with appreciation, sending random gifts, including 1 million Naira alerts. I never asked for anything from him, but the goodwill I extended back then has paid off in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
In a world where people often only take an interest in others when they see what they can gain, the story of Fidelity and Air Peace—and my own experience with Gaius—proves that life doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes, the best investments are in people, even when there’s no immediate return in sight.
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