Fidelity Bank Plc has strengthened its commitment to Nigeria’s creative industry with its sponsorship of the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX WKND) as an Official Trade Partner, in a move aimed at promoting creative entrepreneurship, expanding business opportunities and positioning African talents for greater international recognition.
The four-day event, scheduled to take place from November 5 to 8, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, National Theatre Complex, Lagos, will bring together creative professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, business executives and policymakers from across Africa and beyond. Themed “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World,” the gathering will provide a platform for showcasing Africa’s cultural wealth, encouraging collaborations and exploring opportunities within the continent’s rapidly expanding creative economy.
As part of its participation, Fidelity Bank will showcase its creative industry initiative, the Fidelity Creativerse, under the theme, “Where Creativity Meets Business Opportunity.” The platform will provide an opportunity for visitors to interact with the bank’s representatives and gain insights into financial services, digital payment solutions and business support offerings designed to address the needs of creative entrepreneurs.
Creative business owners, industry professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs attending the event are expected to benefit from engagements at the Fidelity Bank exhibition stand, where they can explore business development opportunities, establish strategic relationships and access relevant financial solutions to strengthen their operations and accelerate growth.
Speaking on the partnership, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to developing Nigeria’s creative economy, describing the sector as an important contributor to national economic growth, employment generation, innovation and international trade.
According to her, unlocking the enormous potential of Africa’s creative industries requires a well-structured ecosystem capable of nurturing talents, strengthening business operations and connecting creative entrepreneurs to financing opportunities, strategic partnerships and international markets. She noted that financial institutions have a critical responsibility to provide the necessary support for transforming creative ideas into sustainable commercial ventures.
Onyeali-Ikpe explained that the bank’s participation at CANEX WKND reflects its determination to help creative entrepreneurs convert their talents and innovative ideas into viable businesses capable of competing effectively within Nigeria, across Africa and in the global marketplace.
As part of the programme, the Fidelity Bank chief executive will participate in a high-level discussion titled “Building the Capital Stack for Africa’s Creative Economy.” Her contribution will focus on the essential requirements for developing investment-ready creative businesses, including skills acquisition, infrastructure, access to markets, institutional support and sustainable financing structures.
Beyond its participation in the panel discussion, Fidelity Bank will host a specialised workshop titled “Fueling Visions, Creating Impact” on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The session will bring together professionals across banking, filmmaking, photography, fashion, content creation and music to examine practical strategies for turning creative talents into profitable enterprises and sustainable business ventures.
The bank’s partnership with CANEX WKND builds on its broader initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and strengthen the commercial capacity of Nigeria’s creative sector. Through its Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC), a global trade platform, the financial institution has continued to facilitate connections between Nigerian businesses, creative entrepreneurs, international buyers, investors and strategic business partners, creating opportunities for cross-border trade and collaboration.
Similarly, through the Fidelity Creativerse and Fidelity SME Hub, the bank provides practical training and capacity-building opportunities in areas such as cinematography, mobile video editing, fashion styling, beauty, voice-over production, public speaking and other creative disciplines. These programmes are designed to equip participants with relevant professional skills, improve their business capabilities and enhance their ability to generate sustainable income from their talents.
CANEX WKND, an initiative of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has established itself as an important platform for connecting Africa’s creative professionals with investors, international buyers, policymakers and industry leaders. The 2026 edition will feature exhibitions, panel discussions, live performances, deal rooms, masterclasses and business networking sessions aimed at encouraging investment, promoting cultural exchange and expanding commercial opportunities across Africa’s creative industries.
Through its involvement, Fidelity Bank is reinforcing the importance of access to finance, business knowledge, skills development and international market connections in building a competitive creative economy. The partnership further highlights the bank’s strategy of supporting emerging industries, empowering entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for Nigerian creative businesses to achieve sustainable growth and global relevance.