By Ayomide Otitoju
Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth and sustainability of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) 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 strategies for strengthening business operations, improving access to finance and promoting sustainable enterprise development in Northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank, Sufiyanu Garba, described Northern Nigeria as critical to the country’s economic development, citing its agricultural resources, trading activities, manufacturing capacity and large consumer market.
Garba said the bank was committed to helping businesses in the region unlock their potential through financing, market access, advisory services and strategic partnerships.
He added that the Quarterly Business Forum was designed to support businesses beyond access to funding by providing knowledge, connections and other solutions needed for growth.
Divisional Head, SME Banking, Fidelity Bank, Ugochi Osinigwe, said the forum provided an opportunity for the bank to engage directly with entrepreneurs and understand the challenges affecting businesses across different sectors.
Osinigwe said Fidelity Bank was providing products, advisory services and partnerships to help businesses build, scale and remain sustainable.
She also highlighted the bank’s zero-maintenance-fee account offerings and free capacity-building programmes aimed at improving entrepreneurs’ skills in business structuring, record keeping, financial management and access to finance.
According to her, the bank invests in training because limited knowledge of essential business practices remains a challenge for many SMEs.
Participants commended Fidelity Bank for providing a platform for direct engagement and practical business support.
Managing Director of I.G. Best Company, Okereke Ignatus Mmbonye, said the bank’s support for SMEs extended beyond financing, noting that the forum provided valuable knowledge and business connections.
Similarly, Managing Director of Nabila Oil Mills, Sufiyanu Salisu Ahmad, praised the bank for creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to engage directly with financial institutions and discuss challenges affecting their businesses.
The Quarterly Business Forum is part of Fidelity Bank’s broader SME support initiatives covering access to finance, enterprise development, financial education, financial inclusion and business advisory services.
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, in recognition of its contribution to improving access to credit and supporting enterprise growth.
Fidelity Bank serves more than 10 million customers through its digital banking channels, 255 business offices across Nigeria and its United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
