Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially launched the 2025 edition of the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC) at the Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta, United States. The ceremony, held on Thursday, September 18, 2025, brought together stakeholders from government, finance, trade, and the diaspora community.
In his keynote address, Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to partnering with corporate organizations and sub-national governments worldwide to unlock its vast economic potential. He highlighted Lagos as Nigeria’s hub for non-oil revenue, noting that the state attracted $5.95 billion in foreign capital inflows in 2024—accounting for more than two-thirds of Nigeria’s total. Despite global economic headwinds, Lagos secured $2.56 billion in the first quarter of 2025 alone.
Projecting Lagos’s future growth, the Governor emphasized that by 2030, the state is on course to rank as the world’s ninth-largest city economy, with a population exceeding 30 million and one of Africa’s most dynamic consumer markets. He also spotlighted Lagos as the heartbeat of Africa’s technology ecosystem, hosting more than 2,500 startups, including unicorns such as Flutterwave and Andela.
Hosted by Fidelity Bank Plc, FNITCC is the bank’s flagship market access platform designed to expand non-oil exports. This year’s three-day event drew over 3,000 participants, including investors, trade agencies, exporters, and diaspora professionals, with projected trade and investment deals valued at more than $500 million.
Managing Director and CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda. She stressed that while non-oil exports currently generate less than $5 billion annually, the potential remains enormous. “Lagos contributes over 30% of Nigeria’s GDP and is home to thousands of export-ready businesses across agriculture, fashion, creative industries, and professional services,” she said.
Onyeali-Ikpe described Georgia as a natural partner for Nigeria’s non-oil transformation, citing its robust logistics infrastructure, thriving diaspora community, and strategic trade policies. “At Fidelity Bank, we believe access to global markets is a pathway to shared prosperity. That belief inspired the creation of FNITCC,” she added.
The Atlanta edition marks the third in the global FNITCC series, following successful outings in London and Houston that facilitated over $500 million in export deals. The 2025 edition is projected to unlock a pipeline of more than $300 million in trade and investment opportunities.
Fidelity Bank, a leading commercial bank with more than 9.1 million customers across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, has earned recognition for its innovation and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Recent accolades include the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award (BusinessDay BAFI Awards), Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application (Global Business Outlook), and Export Financing Bank of the Year.