Fidelity Bank has unveiled the Fidelity SME Hub, a dedicated facility aimed at supporting Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) and creative entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The hub, located in Lagos, is designed to provide businesses with the resources, training, and networking opportunities they need to scale and thrive in a competitive economy.
The SME Hub is a multipurpose space featuring training halls, meeting rooms, networking areas, podcast rooms, and fully equipped studios for music, photography, and content production.It is part of Fidelity Bank’s broader strategy to go beyond financial support by providing non-financial interventions that help businesses grow.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director and CEO of Fidelity Bank, emphasized that the bank has been supporting small businesses for nearly four decades and has recognized that funding alone is not enough. She explained that many entrepreneurs struggle with skills development, business strategy, and access to industry networks. The SME Hub, she said, is designed to bridge these gaps by fostering innovation, collaboration, and capacity-building, all of which are essential for strengthening the SME ecosystem and driving economic growth.
The Fidelity SME Hub will provide entrepreneurs with structured support programs, including mentorship, hands-on business advisory services, and networking opportunities with industry experts and key stakeholders. This access to knowledge and guidance is expected to help businesses navigate challenges, expand their operations, and contribute more meaningfully to Nigeria’s economy.
A key feature of the hub is Creativerse, a specialized space catering to entrepreneurs in the creative industry. With the rapid growth of Nigeria’s entertainment and digital media sector, Creativerse provides a dedicated environment where content creators, musicians, photographers, and filmmakers can develop high-quality productions. Fidelity Bank sees this as a crucial investment in the creative economy, which has already been identified as a significant contributor to Nigeria’s GDP.
Beyond providing physical infrastructure, Fidelity Bank has also introduced a range of training courses to be hosted at the SME Hub. These courses cover essential business areas, including financial management, investment readiness, digital transformation, technology adoption, marketing, branding, and business growth strategies. Entrepreneurs will also have access to a fully-fledged creative academy, which will offer specialized training in music production, the business of music, website design, mobile videography, photography, and disc jockeying (DJing).
Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe pointed out that the SME Hub is part of a larger effort to support the economic diversification agenda of the Nigerian government. She noted that SMEs play a crucial role in driving non-oil exports and creating employment opportunities. By equipping them with the tools and knowledge needed to scale, Fidelity Bank hopes to increase its contribution to Nigeria’s non-oil GDP.
The bank is particularly optimistic about the impact of Creativerse, as it aims to unlock new revenue streams for entrepreneurs in the entertainment and digital media industries. Nigeria’s creative sector has already shown immense potential, contributing 2.3% to the country’s GDP, and initiatives like this could further strengthen its global competitiveness.
Fidelity Bank has consistently positioned itself as one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions for SMEs, offering both financial and non-financial support. Over the years, it has built a reputation for helping businesses scale, a commitment that has earned it multiple local and international awards. Some of its notable recognitions include being named 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 Euromoney Awards for Excellence.
With a customer base of over 8.5 million across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, Fidelity Bank continues to expand its influence in the financial sector. The launch of the SME Hub marks a new milestone in its commitment to empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs, equipping them with the resources and expertise needed to build sustainable businesses.
As the SME Hub opens its doors, all eyes will be on Fidelity Bank to see how this initiative transforms Nigeria’s business landscape. If successful, it could serve as a model for other financial institutions looking to invest in the long-term growth of SMEs and the creative industry.
