Lagos, Nigeria – Fidelity Bank Plc has been named the Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year at the inaugural Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards, in recognition of its outstanding financial performance, investor confidence, and strategic industry leadership in Nigeria’s capital markets.
The prestigious award was presented on Friday, May 23, 2025, during a high-profile ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Civic Center in Lagos.
Organized by Nairametrics, Nigeria’s foremost financial media and analytics platform, the event was designed to celebrate individuals, institutions, and policy reforms that have had significant impact on Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem.
Speaking on the honour, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, expressed gratitude for the recognition, noting that it reflects the bank’s unwavering commitment to performance excellence, customer satisfaction, and national economic development.
“This award is a testament to the tremendous work we are doing at Fidelity Bank—not only in delivering superior service to our customers, but also in driving economic growth and creating sustainable value for all stakeholders,” said Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe.
“We are deeply grateful for this recognition and remain committed to helping individuals grow, businesses thrive, and economies prosper.”
The award ceremony drew key dignitaries from across the public and private sectors, including the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; regulators, banking executives, media leaders, and capital market stakeholders.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), emphasized the need for constant innovation and resilience in the Nigerian capital market.
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“Markets must become more efficient, secure, and innovative to fulfill their promise. In Nigeria, we are committed to building a resilient, inclusive, transparent, and future-ready capital market,” Dr. Agama stated.
Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, Ugo Obi-Chukwu, described the awards as an initiative aimed at reinforcing trust, performance, and innovation in the financial sector.
“The Capital Market Choice Awards is our way of reinforcing the core values that sustain a healthy capital ecosystem—trust, performance, and progress,” he noted.
Fidelity Bank’s recognition comes on the heels of a remarkable financial year. In 2024, the bank reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of ₦385.2 billion—a staggering 210% year-on-year increase, the highest in Nigeria’s banking industry for the period.
Further strengthening its reputation, Fidelity Bank led the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalization initiative with a record-setting Public Offer and Rights Issue. Both offerings were oversubscribed—by 237.9% and 137.7% respectively—signaling overwhelming investor confidence in the bank’s growth trajectory and strategic vision.
Fidelity Bank continues to cement its place among Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, offering services to over 9.1 million customers through a combination of 255 business offices across Nigeria and its United Kingdom-based subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.