Fidelity Bank to connect Northern entrepreneurs with finance, digital growth opportunities

Fasesin Emmanuel

Fidelity Bank Plc is set to deepen its support for businesses across Northern Nigeria as it hosts the latest edition of its Quarterly Business Forum in Kano, bringing together entrepreneurs, business owners, industry leaders and other key stakeholders to explore strategies and opportunities for sustainable enterprise growth.

The forum, scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, 2026, is themed “Positioning Northern Businesses for Growth” and is expected to provide participants with practical knowledge, business connections and insights capable of strengthening the competitiveness of enterprises operating in the region.

The Kano edition is part of Fidelity Bank’s broader efforts to support Nigeria’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by creating platforms where entrepreneurs can gain access to relevant business information, financial opportunities and networks that can help them navigate an increasingly competitive economic environment.

According to the bank, discussions at the forum will focus on critical issues affecting businesses, including strengthening business operations, improving financial management, expanding access to finance, adopting digital solutions, increasing market reach and building sustainable enterprises capable of surviving and growing over the long term.

The event is also expected to provide an opportunity for business owners to engage directly with industry experts and other entrepreneurs, exchange experiences and explore practical solutions to some of the challenges confronting businesses in the region.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Divisional Head, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ugochi Osinigwe, said the Quarterly Business Forum was conceived to provide businesses with the knowledge, connections and opportunities required to improve their performance and competitiveness.

Osinigwe said the decision to take the forum to Kano reflected the bank’s commitment to supporting businesses beyond the major commercial centres and ensuring that entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria have access to resources that can help unlock their growth potential.

She said, “The Fidelity Bank Quarterly Business Forum is designed to equip businesses with practical knowledge, meaningful connections, and access to opportunities that can drive growth and competitiveness.”

According to her, bringing the latest edition to Kano underscores Fidelity Bank’s commitment to supporting businesses across Nigeria, particularly entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria who require access to relevant knowledge, financial resources and strategic networks to expand their businesses.

The forum comes at a time when businesses across Nigeria continue to contend with changing market conditions, rising operating costs, increasing competition and the need to adopt new technologies to remain competitive.

For many MSMEs, access to affordable finance, appropriate financial management practices, digital tools and reliable markets remains critical to their ability to expand operations, create employment and contribute meaningfully to economic development.

Against this backdrop, the Kano forum is expected to provide entrepreneurs with actionable strategies for improving the resilience and sustainability of their businesses.

The programme will feature sessions led by industry experts and business leaders, with participants expected to gain insights into emerging business trends and opportunities while also benefiting from networking opportunities.

The bank said participants would have the opportunity to share their experiences, interact with other stakeholders and obtain practical knowledge tailored to the realities of operating businesses in the current economic environment.

Strengthening MSMEs

The Quarterly Business Forum forms part of Fidelity Bank’s wider strategy of supporting the development of Nigeria’s SME ecosystem through capacity building, financial services, knowledge sharing and business networking.

The bank’s commitment to the MSME sector was recently recognised when it emerged winner of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Service Ambassadors Award for the Highest Impact on MSMEs Accessing Credit for the First Time.

The recognition highlights the bank’s efforts to deepen financial inclusion and expand access to credit for businesses that may otherwise face difficulties obtaining formal financing.

Through its SME-focused initiatives, Fidelity Bank continues to provide entrepreneurs with access to capacity-building programmes, tailored financial services, business knowledge and strategic networks.

The bank believes that strengthening MSMEs is critical to Nigeria’s broader economic development because small and medium-sized businesses play an important role in employment generation, innovation, local production and economic diversification.

The Kano forum is therefore expected to serve as another platform for strengthening the relationship between the financial institution and entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria.

Beyond access to finance, the discussions are expected to highlight the importance of sound business structures, effective financial planning, technology adoption and market expansion as critical components of sustainable enterprise development.