Fidelity Bank Plc has emphasized its commitment to the development of Nigeria’s creative economy with the launch of the Creativerse.
Located in a dedicated wing at the recently unveiled Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada Phase 2, Lagos, the Creativerse boasts of fully equipped music recording, podcast, content production and photography studios as well as co-working spaces designed to foster innovation, collaboration and capacity development amongst operators in the Creative industry.
Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director/chief executive officer, Fidelity Bank, while speaking during a tour with a select group of dignitaries and creative entrepreneurs of the facility recently, said, “We thought it is very important to have touchpoints for people who don’t have the capacity to do what they dream about. That is what this hub is about.
“We believe that everybody has a God-given skill- all we want you to do is to develop it and we are here to support you. And once you have developed the skill into a bankable transaction, you can rest assured that Fidelity will be there to help you take it to the next level.
“This is an incubator, we expect you to incubate your skills. The people on the finance side will help you with your accounting and all of that. And then it becomes bankable and you will become the next Burna Boy, the next Davido, the next Wizkid, Tems or Flavour,” she said.
The Fidelity SME Hub is a comprehensive resource center offering training programs, capacity-building workshops, business mentorship, industry networking opportunities, and business advisory services to small business owners.
Explaining the vision of the Creativerse and what the bank wants to achieve with the facility, Onyeali-Ikpe said, “We want the next Dangote to come out of here, the next BUA, the next Nestoil.
“We want you to grow and the most we can do is to support you. And most of this is pro bono. We want a situation that you can come and you are not scared of anything. Fidelity will take care of it,” she added.
On his part Comrade Ayodele Olawande, minister of Youth Development, lauded the bank saying, “I want to see a bank that truly supports young people, and Fidelity Bank is doing just that. This initiative reflects a commitment to equipping Nigerian youth with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to turn their business ambitions into profitable ventures”.
Similarly, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, who was represented by Barr. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, secretary to the State Government (SSG), lauded the initiative as a game-changer for Lagos’ entrepreneurial ecosystem, noting that “SMEs contribute about 84 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and in Lagos, our dynamic business environment thrives on initiatives like this.
“This hub is a world-class package that moves businesses from survival to sustainability and from growth to greatness,” he said.
The Creativerse currently hosts a range of masterclasses, trainings and networking events; and can be accessed at www.fidelitybank.ng/smehub.
