L-R: Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Sufiyanu Garba; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, I.G. Best Company, Mr. Okereke Ignatus Mmbonye; and Divisional Head, SME Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs Ugochi Osinigwe; at the Fidelity Bank Quarterly Business Forum held in Kano recently.
Susan Abayomi
Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to driving the growth of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Nigeria through its Quarterly Business Forum held in Kano.
The forum, themed “Positioning Northern Businesses for Growth,” brought together entrepreneurs, business owners, industry stakeholders and customers to discuss practical solutions for improving business performance, accessing finance, strengthening financial management and building sustainable enterprises.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Sufiyanu Garba, described Northern Nigeria as a key contributor to the country’s economic development, noting that the region’s agricultural resources, trading strength, manufacturing capacity and consumer market present huge opportunities for growth.
Garba said Fidelity Bank remains committed to helping businesses unlock their potential through financing, market opportunities, advisory support and strategic partnerships.
“The North occupies a critical place in Nigeria’s economic future. With its vast agricultural resources, strong trading culture, manufacturing capacity and large consumer market, the region has enormous potential for sustainable economic growth,” he said.
He added that the Quarterly Business Forum reflects the bank’s broader approach to supporting businesses beyond providing funds.
According to him, Fidelity Bank aims to serve as a trusted partner by providing entrepreneurs with the financing, knowledge, connections and solutions needed to expand their businesses.
Also speaking, Divisional Head, SME Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Ugochi Osinigwe, explained that the forum was designed to create direct engagement between the bank and entrepreneurs to better understand the challenges affecting businesses across different sectors.
She noted that Fidelity Bank’s support for SMEs goes beyond traditional banking services, as the institution continues to provide capacity-building programmes, advisory services and business solutions to help enterprises grow.
Osinigwe highlighted the bank’s efforts to reduce the cost of doing business through initiatives such as zero-maintenance-fee account offerings and free training programmes focused on business structuring, record keeping, financial management and access to finance.
Participants at the forum praised Fidelity Bank for creating a platform that provides entrepreneurs with valuable insights and opportunities to connect with financial experts and industry stakeholders.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of I.G. Best Company, Mr. Okereke Ignatus Mmbonye, said the bank’s SME support extends beyond access to credit.
He noted that platforms like the Quarterly Business Forum provide businesses with knowledge and networks that can contribute significantly to their growth.
Similarly, Managing Director of Nabila Oil Mills, Mr. Sufiyanu Salisu Ahmad, commended Fidelity Bank for creating opportunities for direct conversations between financial institutions and entrepreneurs.
He said the initiative demonstrated the bank’s commitment to understanding business challenges and providing practical support.
The Kano edition of the Quarterly Business Forum forms part of Fidelity Bank’s wider efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s SME ecosystem through financial inclusion, enterprise development, business education and improved access to funding.
The bank recently received the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Service Ambassadors Award for the Highest Impact on MSMEs Accessing Credit for the First Time, recognising its role in expanding financial access and supporting enterprise development.
Fidelity Bank Plc is one of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks, serving over 10 million customers through its digital banking platforms, 255 business offices nationwide and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
