Mayor Andre Dickens has praise the 2025 Fidelity Nigeria International Trade & Creative Connect, FNITCC as a platform for strengthening African-American trade and cultural ties welcoming the conference to Atlanta.
Fidelity Bank Plc has again demonstrated its commitment to boosting Nigeria’s non-oil exports and global competitiveness through the 2025 Fidelity Nigeria International Trade & Creative Connect (FNITCC), which held in Atlanta, Georgia, over the weekend.
The event, now in its third edition, drew international business leaders, policymakers, and creative industry players. It featured exhibitions, deal rooms, panel discussions, and a gala dinner, all designed to showcase Nigeria’s export potential and expand access to the U.S. market.
“This conference presents a unique opportunity for thought leaders from Atlanta and Africa to collaborate. Our shared legacies—from civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela to our strengths in logistics, finance, technology, and the creative industries—form a strong foundation for trade and investment. We are not just networking; we are building lasting networks,” Dickens said.
In her keynote, Fidelity Bank MD/CEO Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe described FNITCC as the culmination of years of investment in building export capacity.
“From ground zero, we began by equipping small businesses with the fundamentals of export through capacity-building programs with Lagos Business School. Today, we are showcasing them to the world,” she noted, stressing the bank’s role in diversifying Nigeria’s economy away from oil dependence.
Onyeali-Ikpe highlighted the unique advantage of the conference in connecting buyers and sellers directly, building trust, and unlocking opportunities. “Fidelity Bank has emerged as the leading bank in non-oil exports from the agricultural sector,” she added.
Also in attendance was Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who led a delegation to the Georgia State Capitol. He declared Lagos “open for business and investment” and proposed a sister-city framework to deepen ties between Atlanta and Lagos.
Fidelity Bank’s continued push for innovation and support for MSMEs has earned it both local and international recognition, including awards for excellence in digital transformation, mobile banking, SME financing, and export financing.
The FNITCC has, over the past four years, evolved into a strategic platform for building global bridges for Nigerian businesses and creatives, positioning them for sustainable growth in international markets.
