Mayor of Atlanta Applauds Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect Conference

Fidelity Bank Plc, a tier one lender, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigerian businesses in scaling up and competing effectively on the global stage. This was highlighted at the 2025 Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect Conference, held over the weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reflecting on the evolution of the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect over the past four years, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, described the initiative as a strategic expression of the bank’s vision to empower homegrown businesses for global competitiveness.

“Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect is a vision that has come a long way. We began by equipping Nigerian exporters with foundational knowledge through capacity-building programs in partnership with the Lagos Business School. From ground zero, we taught small businesses the fundamentals of export. Once they were ready, we created this platform to showcase them to the world. Our goal has always been to help shift Nigeria from an oil dependent economy to a diversified, non-oil driven one, and exports are key to that transformation,” Onyeali-Ikpe said in her welcome address.

She emphasized the unique role of the conference in connecting buyers and sellers directly, building trust and confidence through face-to-face interactions. “At this event, we have a wide range of buyers, from major retailers to small scale distributors. Fidelity Bank has emerged as the leading bank in non-oil exports from the agricultural sector,” she noted, while encouraging participants to attend sideline sessions with regulators from Nigeria and the United States on compliance and export standards.

Welcoming the event to Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens applauded the initiative and highlighted the city’s deep-rooted ties with Africa.

“This conference presents a unique opportunity for thought leaders from Atlanta and Africa to collaborate. Our shared legacies, from civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King Junior and Nelson Mandela to our mutual strengths in logistics, finance, technology, and the creative industries, form a strong foundation for trade and investment. We are not just networking; we are building lasting networks,” he said.

The third edition of the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect Atlanta featured deal rooms, panel discussions, exhibitions, and a gala dinner, all designed to spotlight Nigeria’s non-oil export potential and deepen opportunities for expansion into the American market.

As part of efforts to strengthen bilateral trade, a delegation from Lagos State visited the Georgia State Capitol. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declared the state open for investment and proposed the establishment of a sister city framework to strengthen ties between Atlanta and Lagos.

Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial bank with over nine million customers across two hundred and fifty-one business offices and digital channels in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The Bank has received multiple local and international awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions Awards, the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application Award by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider Award by Global Brands Magazine. Fidelity Bank was also recognised as the Best Bank for Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria by Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as Export Financing Bank of the Year by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions Awards.