At the heart of Lagos’ bustling Gbagada, the Fidelity SME Hub came alive as entrepreneurs gathered for the 2025 Fidelity SME Empowerment Program – a three-day initiative designed to revolutionize how small businesses operate.
The highlight? One hundred carefully selected SMEs are receiving state-of-the-art POS systems integrated with ERPRev software – absolutely free. But the support doesn’t end there. The businesses will also enjoy branding guidance, inventory input assistance, and expert training sessions on finance and business development.
“SMEs are the architects of innovation,” said Fidelity Bank CEO, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, in a message delivered by Executive Director, Mr. Stanley Amuchie. “This program helps position them for long-term success in Nigeria’s digital economy.”
With SMEs forming 96% of businesses in Nigeria, this timely intervention could redefine the nation’s economic future.
The three-day program features high-impact training, masterclasses, and networking opportunities designed to spark innovation, build partnerships, and unlock new markets.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Adaonah Kene-Uyawaune, CEO of Manmark – Fidelity Bank’s strategic partner, noted, “This digital transformation initiative is a game changer. It replaces manual bookkeeping with a unified system that simplifies accounting, inventory, HR, and profitability tracking. These tools are not handouts – they are instruments for long-term business success.”
According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, SMEs make up 96% of all businesses in the country, employ over 80% of the workforce, and contribute nearly 50% to the national GDP. Despite their critical role in the economy, many still rely on manual processes that hinder efficiency and limit access to finance.
Fidelity Bank’s intervention is therefore both timely and strategic – providing SMEs with the digital tools and support they need to streamline operations, improve transparency, and unlock new growth opportunities.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
L – R: Divisional Head, Product Development, Osita Ede; Executive Director -Lagos and SouthWest, Ken Opara (both of Fidelity Bank Plc); Chief Executive Officer, Manmark, Adaonah Kene-Uyawune; Executive Director/Chief Operations and Information Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Stanley Amuchie; Deputy Director and Lagos State Manager of SMEDAN, Bunmi Kole-Dawodu; and Divisional Head, Brands and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Meksley Nwagboh; at the Fidelity SME Empowerment Program 2025 in Lagos, recently.
