Fidelity Bank Unveils SME Hub To Support Nigerian SMEs

Fidelity Bank has unveiled the Fidelity SME Hub, a dedicated facility designed to support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and creative entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

Situated in Lagos, the hub is intended to provide businesses with essential resources, training, and networking opportunities, helping them grow and thrive in a highly competitive economic environment.

The SME Hub is a versatile space equipped with training halls, meeting rooms, networking areas, podcast rooms, and fully fitted studios for music, photography, and content production. This initiative reflects Fidelity Bank’s broader vision of going beyond financial support by offering non-financial interventions that enable business owners to build capacity, develop strategic plans, and access new markets.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director\Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fidelity Bank, emphasised the bank’s longstanding commitment to supporting small businesses. She explained that while financial backing is critical, many entrepreneurs struggle with skills development, business strategy, and access to industry networks. The SME Hub was created to bridge these gaps by fostering innovation, collaboration, and structured capacity-building programs that strengthen the SME ecosystem and drive economic growth.

Through the Fidelity SME Hub, business owners will benefit from structured mentorship programs, hands-on advisory services, and access to networking sessions with industry experts and key stakeholders. The bank believes that by offering knowledge and guidance, the initiative will help SMEs navigate business challenges, expand their operations, and contribute more meaningfully to Nigeria’s economy.

The SME Hub is a specially designed space for entrepreneurs in the creative industry. Recognising the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s entertainment and digital media sectors, Fidelity Bank has invested in a facility where content creators, musicians, photographers, and filmmakers can develop high-quality productions. With the creative economy already contributing significantly to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP), the bank sees this initiative as a strategic move to support emerging talent and unlock new revenue streams for entrepreneurs in the sector.

Beyond providing physical infrastructure, the Fidelity SME Hub will also offer specialised training programs through its Creative Academy, covering areas such as music production, the business of music, website design, mobile videography, photography, and disc jockeying. In equipping creative entrepreneurs with the right skills, the bank aims to enhance their competitiveness in the global market and further strengthen Nigeria’s position as a hub for artistic and digital innovation.

Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe highlighted that the SME Hub aligns with Nigeria’s broader economic diversification agenda, particularly in driving non-oil exports and employment creation. She noted that SMEs play a crucial role in economic development, and by equipping them with the tools and knowledge needed to scale, Fidelity Bank hopes to increase its contribution to Nigeria’s non-oil GDP.

Over the years, Fidelity Bank has established itself as one of Nigeria’s most SME-friendly financial institutions, offering both financial and non-financial support to business owners. This commitment has earned the bank several industry awards, including Best SME Bank in Nigeria by the Global Banking and Finance Awards, Export Finance Bank of the Year by BusinessDay’s BAFI Awards, and Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence. With a customer base of over 8.5 million across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, the bank continues to expand its reach and influence in the financial sector.