By Kehinde Ibrahim
Women entrepreneurs are pivotal drivers of economic development, job creation, and innovation, bringing distinctive perspectives that foster collaboration and community impact. Their contributions extend beyond economic growth to promote social equity and gender inclusion. However, research shows a persistent gender gap in financial opportunities, and women often face limited access to capital and inadequate mentorship that can hinder business growth and development.
In addressing these challenges through inclusive policies, Fidelity Bank is revolutionising the landscape for Nigerian women by offering a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to foster economic empowerment, business growth, and personal well-being.
Tagged HerFidelity, this is Fidelity Bank’s flagship initiative dedicated to empowering women through inclusive finance, capacity building, and mentorship. It provides women with access to tailored financial solutions, business support, and networking opportunities, enabling them to grow their enterprises, advance their careers, and achieve financial independence. By bridging the gender finance gap and championing women-led innovation, HerFidelity reinforces Fidelity Bank’s commitment to driving inclusive growth and fostering a more equitable economy.
Building a Community for Women to Thrive
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, OON, recently encouraged women professionals to embrace continuous learning, courage, and collaboration as key habits for achieving long-term career success and breaking through professional barriers.
She gave the charge during a Women’s Roundtable hosted by the bank at the Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada, Lagos. Themed “Mentorship with Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe”, the event drew female professionals from various sectors and was held under the Recognition and Networking arm of the bank’s HerFidelity Proposition—a flagship initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs and professionals across Nigeria.
Explaining the vision behind HerFidelity, Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe noted that the initiative was born out of a strong need to provide women with holistic support beyond access to finance.
“In my engagements with women across different industries, I’ve seen first-hand that while talent and ambition abound, many still lack access to capital, skills development, health support, and networks,” she said.
“HerFidelity was created to bridge that gap by focusing on four key pillars: access to capital, capacity building, wellness for work-life balance, and entrepreneurship support. It’s one of the initiatives I’m most proud of, because when women thrive, communities prosper and economies flourish.”
The interactive mentorship session, held in a Q&A format, offered participants an opportunity to learn directly from the trailblazing CEO, who shared personal experiences and career insights.
Advising young women aspiring to leadership, she said: “Believe in yourself, be ready to work hard, and never shy away from taking smart risks. Seek out mentors, invest in meaningful relationships, and above all, collaborate—because no one truly succeeds alone.”
The event also featured fun competitions and giveaways, with attendees winning exciting gifts. Undoubtedly, Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe’s session left participants inspired, reinforcing Fidelity Bank’s position as a champion for gender empowerment and a leading supporter of women’s advancement in business and leadership.
In a related development, under the umbrella of HerFidelity, a Creative Bootcamp for Women was held as a 3-day intensive masterclass designed to equip women with the creative and digital skills needed to thrive in today’s economy.
Hosted at the Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada from August 19-21, 2025, the bootcamp brought together aspiring and established women entrepreneurs, freelancers, and brand builders eager to elevate their businesses. Through hands-on sessions in Brand Design & Visual Identity and Brand Strategy & Copywriting, participants learned to craft compelling brand stories using tools like Canva, Adobe Illustrator, and Figma.
By creating spaces like this—where women build marketable skills, experience the power of connecting with like minds, and gain confidence, HerFidelity moved beyond traditional banking to serve as a true partner in unlocking women’s potential for economic growth.
Driving Women-Led Innovation through FundHer
To further demonstrate its commitment to accelerating women-led businesses, Fidelity Bank launched FundHer, a dedicated financing solution under the HerFidelity umbrella. FundHer is designed to bridge the persistent funding gap faced by women entrepreneurs by providing access to affordable credit of up to N100 million, growth capital, and tailored advisory support.
The loan offerings available under FundHer include Working Capital Loan, Asset Financing Loan and Business Expansion Loan. Fundher also caters to businesses with high potential for innovation and impact across key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, technology and the creative industry.
By combining finance with capacity-building workshops, peer-to-peer learning, and mentorship, FundHer empowers women not just to start businesses but to scale them sustainably. This initiative underscores Fidelity Bank’s belief that investing in women-owned enterprises fuels broader economic growth and fosters inclusive development across Nigeria.
Equipping Women Entrepreneurs with Digital Tools
According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, SMEs make up 96 percent of all businesses in the country, employ over 80 percent of the workforce, and contribute nearly 50 percent to the national GDP. Nairametrics further estimates that about 40% of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria are owned by women. Despite the critical role of SMEs in the economy, many still rely on manual processes that hinder efficiency and limit access to finance.
With this in mind, Fidelity Bank focused on equipping these businesses with digital tools to enhance their operations, boost competitiveness, and drive sustainable growth. This was a critical part of the vision behind the Fidelity SME Empowerment Program 2025 which held in July 2025 in Lagos.
The event, which drew a large turnout of entrepreneurs and stakeholders, marked the official launch of Fidelity Bank’s drive to equip 100 growth-ready SMEs with ERPRev-enabled POS systems and business support tools—at no cost to the beneficiaries. The benefiting businesses received: a POS desktop system, ERPRev business software, receipt printer and barcode scanner, inventory data input support, financial and bookkeeping training, branding and onboarding support, six months of post-installation monitoring; and a free Fidelity POS with instant settlement.
The three-day program featured high-impact trainings, masterclasses, and networking opportunities designed to spark innovation, build partnerships, and unlock new markets. Fidelity Bank’s intervention is both timely and strategic, providing SMEs with the digital tools and support they need to streamline operations, improve transparency, and unlock new growth opportunities in addition to inclusive finance and goal-driven communities.
Through initiatives like these, Fidelity Bank has shown that empowering women with skills, networks, and access to finance creates a powerful ripple effect. By equipping women entrepreneurs with digital tools and creative know-how, these programs have strengthened SMEs, expanded opportunities, and fostered innovation. As more women leverage these resources to grow their businesses, HerFidelity continues to champion inclusive growth, proving that when women rise, communities and economies thrive.
