By Jemimah Wellington, JKNMedia Reporter
OVER THE weekend, the Africa Technology Expo (ATE 2024) saw a convergence of innovators and entrepreneurs showcasing their technological prowess.
The event which held at Landmark Event Center in Victoria Island, Lagos, highlighted the increasing potential of African businesses in the tech industry, offering a platform for creativity and opportunity.
During the expo, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director and CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, articulated the bank’s dedication to driving digital transformation across Africa.
Through a keynote address delivered by Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer Mr. Kevin Ugwuoke, it was revealed that Fidelity Bank is actively pursuing a digital-based retail banking strategy and this includes establishing an SME business hub to foster collaboration among startups, content creators, and digital entrepreneurs.
Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe highlighted the pressing issues hampering tech growth, such as the lack of investment and insufficient support and stressed the need for collective effort among stakeholders to tackle these constraints.
She noted that Fidelity Bank’s collaboration with SPARK Africa and other partners in organizing the Africa Technology Expo aims to bridge these gaps, providing startups with access to investors, growth partners, and industry leaders.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology Olatubosun Alake, spoke to the audience, acknowledging the state’s initiatives in supporting the tech and innovation sectors as he lauded tech startups for their role in driving economic growth and social development.
Nnaemeka Clinton, Chief Innovation Officer of the Africa Technology Expo, commended the remarkable growth and innovation within the African tech industry, saying that the relentless drive seen from the wider African tech landscape to the vibrant hubs of Accra and Lagos, are shaping the future despite challenges like competition and the need for more support.
Documented as one of Nigeria’s leading banks, Fidelity Bank serves over 8.3 million customers across 251 business offices in Nigeria and the UK, along with robust digital banking channels.
The bank’s accolades also include the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023, Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by Global Banking and Finance Awards, Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023, and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
