Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc., has announced a strategic partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) in a move to bridge the gap in helping small businesses access much needed funding and capacity development initiatives.
Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) held in Lagos recently, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe who was represented by the Executive Director, Lagos and South-West, Dr. Ken Opara, said;
“For us at Fidelity Bank, supporting SMEs is in our DNA and for more than two decades, we have been creating multiple platforms to help them thrive.”
“These include the numerous products we have pioneered, our collaboration with the Lagos Business School to host the Export Management Programme, the Fidelity SME Academy, and our weekly SME Forum radio programme successful business owners and SMEDAN share tips on running thriving ventures with listeners.”
“This partnership is therefore another step in our journey of helping entrepreneurs grow and compete favorably in any market they operate and we are very happy to have SMEDAN join us.”
However, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of SMEDAN, Olawale Fasanya, said; “I thank Fidelity Bank for facilitating the partnership, the MoU is particularly significant not just to the Agency but to the MSMEs ecosystem.”
“Fidelity Bank is one of the few commercial banks in Nigeria that have shown immense interest in providing support to the large MSME community. I am very aware of some of your products purposely designed to serve the MSMEs.”
“This explains why the Agency is very excited entering into this relationship that we believe will help change the narratives of the sub-sector.”
