Mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens has lauded Fidelity Bank Plc for hosting the 2025 edition of the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade & Creative Connect, FNITCC, describing the platform as a bridge for deeper collaboration between Atlanta and Africa.
The three-day event, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia, over the weekend, brought together business leaders, exporters, policymakers, and investors to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s non-oil sectors and expand access to the American market.
In his remarks, Dickens underscored the shared history and economic potential between Atlanta and Africa, noting that partnerships in logistics, finance, technology, and the creative industries could drive lasting impact.
“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 mutual strengths in trade and investment form a strong foundation for cooperation,” the mayor said.
Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, explained that FNITCC was conceived as a strategic initiative to equip Nigerian businesses for global competitiveness.
“We began by teaching small businesses the fundamentals of export. Once they were ready, we created this platform to showcase them to the world. Our goal has always been to help Nigeria shift from an oil-dependent economy to a diversified, export-driven one,” she stated in her welcome address.
The third edition of FNITCC featured exhibitions, deal rooms, panel discussions, and a gala dinner. Regulatory agencies from both Nigeria and the United States also held sideline sessions to provide participants with guidance on compliance standards and export processes.
As part of the engagements, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led a delegation to the Georgia State Capitol, where he declared Lagos open for business and proposed a sister-city partnership between Atlanta and Lagos to strengthen bilateral trade.
Fidelity Bank Plc, which has over 9.1 million customers across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, has in recent years positioned itself as a leading financier of non-oil exports, particularly in agriculture. The bank has also won several local and international awards for innovation, SME support, and export financing.