Fidelity Bank Plc is strengthening efforts to connect Nigeria’s creative entrepreneurs with financing, business support and international markets through its partnership with the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus, CANEX WKND.
The bank, which is participating as an Official Trade Partner, will showcase its business and financial solutions at the four-day event scheduled for November 5 to 8 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, National Theatre Complex, Lagos.
The event, themed “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World,” is expected to bring together creative entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and policymakers.
Under its Fidelity Creativerse platform, the bank will present opportunities for creative businesses to access banking, payment and other business solutions. Its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, said the creative economy was strategically important to Nigeria’s economic growth and international trade ambitions.
She said the sector offered opportunities for enterprise development, job creation, innovation and trade, but required an ecosystem capable of developing talent, supporting viable businesses and connecting entrepreneurs to finance, partnerships and markets.
“ Our participation at CANEX WKND reflects our commitment to helping creative entrepreneurs transform their talents into sustainable businesses that can compete successfully in local and international markets,” Onyeali-Ikpe said.
The bank’s chief executive is also scheduled to speak at a session titled “Building the Capital Stack for Africa’s Creative Economy,” where she will examine the skills, infrastructure, market access, institutional support and financing needed to develop bankable creative enterprises.
Fidelity Bank will also host a workshop, “Fueling Visions, Creating Impact,” on Saturday, November 7, at 2 p.m. The session will bring together professionals in banking, filmmaking, photography, fashion, content creation and music to discuss ways to turn creative talent into commercially viable businesses.
The partnership builds on the bank’s existing creative-sector initiatives, including the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC), which connects Nigerian businesses and creative entrepreneurs with international buyers, investors and strategic partners.
Through its Creativerse and Fidelity SME Hub platforms, the bank also provides practical training in cinematography, mobile video editing, fashion styling, beauty, voice-over, public speaking and other creative disciplines.
CANEX WKND, an initiative of the African Export-Import Bank, provides a platform for creative professionals to connect with investors, buyers, policymakers and industry leaders. Its 2026 programme will feature exhibitions, panel discussions, performances, deal rooms, masterclasses and business networking sessions.
Interested participants can register at https://wknd.canex.africa/.