CITIZENS COMPASS– Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has emphasized its commitment to the development of Nigeria’s creative economy with the launch of the Creativerse.
Located in a dedicated wing at the recently unveiled Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada Phase 2, Lagos, the Creativerse boasts of fully equipped music recording, podcast, content production and photography studios as well as co-working spaces designed to foster innovation, collaboration and capacity development amongst operators in the Creative industry.
“We thought it is very important to have touchpoints for people who don’t have the capacity to do what they dream about. That is what this hub is about. We believe that everybody has a God-given skill- all we want you to do is to develop it and we are here to support you. And once you have developed the skill into a bankable transaction, you can rest assured that Fidelity will be there to help you take it to the next level.
“This is an incubator, we expect you to incubate your skills. The people on the finance side will help you with your accounting and all of that. And then it becomes bankable and you will become the next Burna Boy, the next Davido, the next Wizkid, Tems or Flavour”, noted the Fidelity Bank Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe when she took a select group of dignitaries and creative entrepreneurs on an exclusive tour of the facility recently.
The Fidelity SME Hub is a comprehensive resource center offering training programs, capacity-building workshops, business mentorship, industry networking opportunities, and business advisory services to small business owners.
Explaining the vision of the Creativerse and what the bank wants to achieve with the facility, Onyeali-Ikpe said, “We want the next Dangote to come out of here, the next BUA, the next Nestoil. We want you to grow and the most we can do is to support you. And most of this is pro bono. We want a situation that you can come and you are not scared of anything. Fidelity will take care of it.”
On his part the honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande lauded the bank saying, “I want to see a bank that truly supports young people, and Fidelity Bank is doing just that. This initiative reflects a commitment to equipping Nigerian youth with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to turn their business ambitions into profitable ventures”.
Similarly, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, lauded the initiative as a game-changer for Lagos’ entrepreneurial ecosystem, noting, “SMEs contribute about 84 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP, and in Lagos, our dynamic business environment thrives on initiatives like this. This hub is a world-class package that moves businesses from survival to sustainability and from growth to greatness.”
The Creativerse currently hosts a range of masterclasses, trainings and networking events; and can be accessed at www.fidelitybank.ng/smehub.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 8.5 million customers through digital banking channels, its 251 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Awards; the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023; and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
Photo caption:
From Left: The Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii; Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe,OON; Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin; Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs. Fola Ambrose- Medebem; and Executive Director, NEXIM, Stella Okotete; at the launch of the Fidelity SME Hub recently in Lagos.
