Fidelity Bank, a leading financial institution, has announced the imminent launch of its dedicated physical facility for Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SME) and entrepreneurs in the creative sector.

Known as the Fidelity SME Hub, the multipurpose facility features training halls, meeting rooms, networking spaces, podcast rooms as well as music, photography and content production studios.

“For nearly four decades, Fidelity Bank has been at the forefront of supporting small businesses in achieving their potential and driving the nation’s economy. During this time, we have recognized that SMEs require more than just financial assistance. This realization has led to the implementation of various non-financial initiatives tailored to support this sector.

“The Fidelity SME Hub is our latest non-financial solution for SME growth. The facility is designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and capacity-building -vital elements necessary for strengthening Nigeria’s SME ecosystem and driving economic growth”, commented Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc in a chat with journalists recently.

Located at the heart of Lagos, the Fidelity SME Hub will provide entrepreneurs with networking and stakeholder engagement initiatives as well as access to industry experts and mentors for hands-on guidance and business advice. A key feature of the facility is the Creativerse, a well-equipped space for entrepreneurs in the creative industry.

The bank has also announced the launch of dedicated courses to be hosted at the SME Hub in areas such as Financial Management & Investment Readiness, Digital Transformation & Technology Adoption, Marketing, Branding, and Business Growth Strategies. Furthermore, a fully-fledged creative academy will be established to cover courses on Music Production, the Business of Music, Website Design & Development, Mobile Videography, Disc Jockey and Photography. To see a comprehensive list of available courses or to apply, please visit https://www.fidelitybank.ng/smehub/.

Explaining further, Onyeali-Ikpe said, “Beyond empowering small businesses, the Fidelity SME Hub will also serve to bolster our non-oil exports drive as we empower SMEs to increase their contribution to Nigeria’s non-oil GDP thus supporting government’s economic diversification drive. Through our investment in Creativerse in particular, we anticipate that content creators will unlock new revenue streams in entertainment, digital media, and arts, an industry already contributing 2.3% to GDP.”

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank serving over 8.5 million customers through its 255 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as well as through digital banking channels.

The bank has garnered multiple local and international awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023, and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.

Head, Consumer Products & Segments, Ecobank Nigeria, Victor Yalokwu; one of the lucky winners of N500,000.00 in quarterly draws category, Aminat Adefaka; Head, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Adeola Ogunyemi; Head, Product Marketing, Ecobank Nigeria; Ejiebhen Egbomondion and Head, Corporate Communications, Ecobank Nigeria, Austen Osokpor during Ecobank Super Reward Grand Finale draws held in Lagos

Lagos, February 2, 2025 – Ecobank Nigeria, an affiliate of Ecobank Group, has awarded a total of N42 million to its customers through the Super Reward “Millionaire Geng Promo.” This six-month promotion, which ran from July 1 to December 31, 2024, saw customers of the Pan-African bank winning various monetary rewards in monthly, quarterly, and grand prize draws.

The breakdown of the rewards showed that 520 customers won N50,000 each in the monthly draws, 16 customers received N500,000 each in the quarterly draws, and 4 customers took home N2 million each in the final grand prize draws. The promo covered four regions of Nigeria: FCT & North, Lagos, Midwest and Southwest, and South-South Southeast. The draws were conducted transparently and witnessed by lottery regulatory authorities.

Speaking at the grand finale in Lagos over the weekend, Adeola Ogunyemi, Head of Consumer Banking, expressed her delight with the customers’ response to the promo, which aimed to encourage savings. She highlighted that the initiative was part of Ecobank’s strategy to reward customer loyalty and deepen financial inclusion, particularly for Nigerians in rural and semi-urban areas.

“In the last six months, we’ve seen a tremendous response from our customers,” Ogunyemi said. “People are becoming more conscious of the importance of saving. No matter how much you earn, it’s never enough. So, you have to discipline yourself. It’s not about how much comes in, but how much you can retain.”

Ogunyemi also encouraged those who haven’t opened an account with Ecobank to consider the bank as a reliable partner in their financial journey. She pointed out that Ecobank offers a range of services, including savings, loans, and investments, designed to meet a variety of customer needs.

Similarly, Victor Yalokwu, Head of Consumer Segments & Products, explained that the bank launched the promo to encourage savings while also rewarding customers. “Our goal was to cater to the mid-to-low or mass-market segments,” Yalokwu said. “We also have initiatives targeting the mid-to-high, mass affluent, and high-net-worth individuals, but this promotion was designed to be more inclusive, reaching those in the mass market.”

Winners who were contacted by phone during the draws expressed their excitement and gratitude toward Ecobank, with many pledging to continue their business relationship with the bank due to its diverse offerings.

The Ecobank Super Rewards “Millionaire Geng” promo is an exciting savings initiative designed to celebrate and reward loyal customers, providing a unique opportunity to win cash prizes while enjoying the benefits of saving with Ecobank.

Ecobank Nigeria, part of Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking group, offers a comprehensive range of financial services to consumer, commercial, corporate, and investment banking clients. The bank operates over 250 branches and 60,000 Xpress Point agencies across the country.

In preparation for its 80th anniversary, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s foremost innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has unveiled the identity for its 80th anniversary celebration. Set for Friday, May 2nd, 2025, this grand anniversary would serve as the hallmark of Wema Bank’s 80-year journey of unmatched resilience, profound impact and notable transformation from being Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank to becoming Nigeria’s foremost and leading innovative bank. Wema Bank’s impressive 80-year legacy has been one exemplified by immense growth, with the Bank evolving intelligently through the decades, embracing innovation to break new grounds and raising the standards of banking and financial services to provide an unparalleled experience for its customers and stakeholders, both internally and externally. Now on the cusp of its milestone celebration of 80 years, Wema Bank stands at its all-time strongest, proving to be a formidable force in the African financial services industry. All eyes are peeled in anticipation of what Wema Bank will bring on in the coming weeks, as its 80th anniversary celebrations begin to unfold.