Fidelity Bank wins 2025 DBN innovation award for trailblazing support to MSMEs

Fidelity Bank Plc has emerged as the winner of the prestigious 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Innovation Award in the Deposit Money Bank (DMB) category, affirming its leadership in delivering cutting-edge financial solutions to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

The award, presented at the 2025 Service Ambassadors’ Awards held in Lagos, highlights the bank’s strategic focus on fostering MSME resilience and growth through technology-driven and inclusive banking services.

Themed ‘Enhancing Partnership for MSME Resilience and Growth,’ the event brought together financial stakeholders and celebrated institutions that play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In her reaction to the award, the Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, emphasized the bank’s unwavering commitment to supporting Nigerian entrepreneurs.

“At Fidelity Bank, innovation is at the heart of our strategy to support MSMEs. This recognition underscores our commitment to developing scalable, inclusive, and technology-driven financial solutions that create positive outcomes for our nation’s entrepreneurs. We are honored to receive the DBN award and dedicate it to our loyal customers for their continued support,” she stated.

The Managing Director of the Development Bank of Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi, praised Fidelity Bank and other partners for their impactful work in empowering Nigerian businesses.

“You, our partners, are acknowledged and celebrated for your outreach to entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to scale. We appreciate you for your role in converting unbankable ideas into bankable businesses,” Okpanachi said.

He further noted that the DBN Innovation Award recognizes financial institutions that create meaningful change, emphasizing the power of storytelling and the transformative impact of their interventions in the MSME sector.

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Fidelity Bank has in recent times launched several strategic initiatives aimed at deepening support for small businesses.

In May 2025, the bank signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to expand MSMEs across African markets. This partnership is poised to provide Nigerian businesses with new growth frontiers, enhance competitiveness, and unlock export opportunities.

Additionally, the bank recently launched the Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada, Lagos — a state-of-the-art, multifunctional facility designed to foster innovation and capacity-building.

The hub features training halls, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and studios for music, photography, and digital content creation, making it a comprehensive support center for entrepreneurs.

With a customer base exceeding 9.1 million, 255 business offices nationwide, and an international presence through its UK subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc remains a formidable force in Nigeria’s banking sector, dedicated to driving inclusive economic growth through MSME empowerment.