Fidelity Bank Plc has renewed its commitment to accelerating the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Nigeria, urging entrepreneurs to leverage finance, knowledge, market opportunities and strategic partnerships to build resilient businesses.
The bank made the commitment at the Kano edition of its Quarterly Business Forum, which brought together entrepreneurs, business owners, industry stakeholders and customers to examine practical ways of positioning businesses in the region for sustainable growth.
The forum, themed “Positioning Northern Businesses for Growth,” focused on access to finance, improved financial management, business restructuring, market access and other strategies for strengthening enterprises amid prevailing economic challenges.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank Plc, Sufiyanu Garba, described Northern Nigeria as a key driver of the country’s economic future, citing its agricultural resources, trading culture, manufacturing capacity and large consumer market.
Garba said the bank was determined to help businesses convert the region’s economic potential into sustainable growth through financing, advisory services, market access and strategic partnerships.
“Supporting businesses is central to our purpose, and our ambition is to be more than a provider of funds. We want to be a trusted partner that understands businesses and provides the financing, knowledge, connections and solutions they need to grow,” he said.
He added that Kano and the wider Northern region possessed the talent, enterprise and resources required to play a leading role in Nigeria’s economic development.
Also speaking, Divisional Head, SME Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ugochi Osinigwe, said the Quarterly Business Forum was designed to provide a direct platform for the bank to engage with entrepreneurs and understand the challenges confronting businesses across different sectors.
According to her, Fidelity Bank’s support for SMEs extends beyond traditional lending to include business advisory services, capacity building and strategic partnerships.
“This forum is more than an engagement; it is a listening platform. We are here to deepen our relationships, understand the unique challenges facing businesses across sectors and hear directly from entrepreneurs on how we can serve them better,” Osinigwe said.
She disclosed that the bank was also working to reduce the cost of doing business through zero-maintenance-fee account offerings and free capacity-building programmes covering business structuring, record keeping, financial management and access to finance.
Osinigwe said the bank invested in both physical and digital training platforms because many SMEs continued to face challenges arising from inadequate knowledge of essential business practices.
Participants at the forum commended Fidelity Bank for providing a platform that combines business education with direct engagement between entrepreneurs and financial institutions.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of I.G. Best Company, Okereke Ignatus Mmbonye, said the bank’s contribution to SME development went beyond providing credit.
He said the knowledge and business connections generated through platforms such as the forum could make a significant difference to growing enterprises.
Similarly, Managing Director of Nabila Oil Mills, Sufiyanu Salisu Ahmad, praised the bank for creating an avenue for entrepreneurs to directly communicate their challenges and expectations to financial institutions.
The forum is part of Fidelity Bank’s broader SME development strategy, which focuses on access to finance, financial inclusion, enterprise development, financial education and business support.
The bank recently received the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Service Ambassadors Award for Highest Impact on MSMEs Accessing Credit for the First Time, recognising its contribution to expanding access to credit and promoting enterprise growth.
Fidelity Bank, a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank, serves more than 10 million customers through its digital banking platforms and 255 business offices across Nigeria, as well as its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The bank has also received several local and international recognitions, including the 2025 DBN Innovation Award for MSME Support, Best Retail and SME Bank Award by Independent Newspapers, and awards for Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions Awards.
