Fidelity Bank Plc has intensified efforts to strengthen the capacity and resilience of businesses in Northern Nigeria, with a call for greater collaboration, access to finance and practical business knowledge to unlock the region’s entrepreneurial potential.
The financial institution made the commitment at the Kano edition of its Quarterly Business Forum, themed “Positioning Northern Businesses for Growth,” which brought together entrepreneurs, business owners, industry stakeholders and customers to examine practical strategies for building sustainable enterprises.
Beyond traditional access to credit, the forum focused on critical issues affecting businesses, including financial management, business structuring, access to markets, capacity development and the adoption of strategies capable of improving resilience and long-term growth.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Sufiyanu Garba, described Northern Nigeria as a key component of the country’s economic future, stressing that the region possesses significant untapped potential in agriculture, trade, manufacturing and consumer markets.
“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. Fidelity Bank remains committed to helping businesses unlock this potential through financing, market access, advisory support and strategic partnerships,” he said.
Garba explained that the Quarterly Business Forum underscores the bank’s determination to become a strategic partner to businesses rather than merely a source of funding.
“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. Kano and the wider North have the talent, enterprise and resources to play a leading role in Nigeria’s economic future, and Fidelity Bank is committed to supporting that growth,” he emphasised.
Also speaking, Divisional Head, SME Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Ugochi Osinigwe, said the forum was designed to create a direct channel of engagement between the bank and entrepreneurs, enabling it to better understand the challenges confronting businesses across different sectors.
“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. Our commitment goes beyond traditional banking, as we continue to provide products, advisory services and partnerships that help businesses build, scale and thrive,” she said.
Osinigwe further highlighted initiatives aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and improving the capacity of entrepreneurs, including zero-maintenance-fee account offerings and free capacity-building programmes.
According to her, the bank’s training interventions are designed to address some of the knowledge gaps that prevent SMEs from becoming more structured, sustainable and eligible for formal financing.
“We invest significantly in training because many SMEs struggle due to limited knowledge of essential business practices. Through our physical and digital learning platforms, we help entrepreneurs develop the skills required to become more structured, sustainable and bankable,” she noted.
Participants at the forum commended Fidelity Bank for creating an avenue where entrepreneurs could obtain practical insights while engaging directly with a financial institution on the challenges and opportunities within the business environment.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of I.G. Best Company, Mr. Okereke Ignatus Mmbonye, said the bank’s contribution to SME development went beyond providing credit.
“Fidelity Bank has demonstrated that its commitment to SMEs goes beyond access to credit. Platforms such as this provide valuable knowledge and connections that can make a real difference to growing businesses,” he said.
Similarly, Managing Director of Nabila Oil Mills, Mr. Sufiyanu Salisu Ahmad, praised the bank for providing a platform for meaningful interaction between entrepreneurs and financial-sector stakeholders.
“I appreciate Fidelity Bank for creating this platform to engage directly with entrepreneurs and understand the challenges we face. It is encouraging to see a bank take such a practical approach to supporting businesses,” Ahmad stated.
The Kano forum forms part of Fidelity Bank’s broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s SME ecosystem through access to finance, enterprise development, financial education, financial inclusion and strategic business support.
The bank’s efforts have also attracted industry recognition. Fidelity Bank recently received the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Service Ambassadors Award for Highest Impact on MSMEs Accessing Credit for the First Time, in recognition of its contribution to expanding financial inclusion, improving access to credit and supporting enterprise development.
