By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has inaugurated the 2025 edition of the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC), held at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, United States, on Thursday, September 18.
In his keynote address, Sanwo-Olu underscored Lagos State’s commitment to partnering with corporate organizations and sub-national governments worldwide to unlock its economic potential. He described Lagos as Nigeria’s non-oil economic hub, citing foreign capital inflows of $5.95 billion in 2024—representing more than two-thirds of the country’s total. In the first quarter of 2025, Lagos attracted $2.56 billion despite global economic headwinds.
The governor highlighted Lagos’s ambition to rank among the world’s top ten city economies by 2030, with a population projected to exceed 30 million and one of Africa’s most dynamic consumer markets. He also spotlighted Lagos as the continent’s leading technology hub, hosting more than 2,500 startups, including unicorns such as Flutterwave and Andela.
FNITCC, hosted by Fidelity Bank Plc, is the bank’s flagship non-oil export platform. The three-day event brought together more than 3,000 participants—including investors, trade agencies, exporters, and diaspora professionals—with projected trade and investment deals exceeding $500 million.
Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to diversifying Nigeria’s trade with the U.S. beyond oil. She noted that Nigeria’s annual non-oil exports currently stand at less than $5 billion, with Lagos accounting for more than 30% of the nation’s GDP and thousands of export-ready businesses across agriculture, fashion, creative industries, and professional services.
“Georgia’s world-class logistics, vibrant diaspora, and progressive trade policies make it a natural partner for Nigeria’s non-oil export drive,” Onyeali-Ikpe said. “At Fidelity Bank, we believe access to global markets is the pathway to shared prosperity—an idea that inspired the creation of FNITCC.”
This year’s Atlanta edition is the third global outing of FNITCC, following successful editions in London and Houston that facilitated more than $500 million in export transactions. Organisers project that the 2025 event will generate over $300 million in trade and investment opportunities.
Fidelity Bank serves over 9.1 million customers through 251 business offices and digital platforms across Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The bank has earned multiple awards, including Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria (Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024) and Export Financing Bank of the Year (BusinessDay BAFI Awards).
