Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially launched the 2025 edition of the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC) at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, USA.
The three-day event, hosted by Fidelity Bank Plc, brought together over 3,000 participants, including investors, trade agencies, exporters, and diaspora professionals, with projected trade and investment deals exceeding $500 million.
In his keynote address, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized Lagos’ readiness to collaborate with corporate organizations and sub-national governments globally to unlock its vast economic potential.
He highlighted Lagos as a powerhouse of non-oil revenue, attracting $5.95 billion in foreign capital inflows in 2024, over two-thirds of Nigeria’s total. Despite global economic headwinds, Lagos maintained its lead in Q1 2025, drawing $2.56 billion.
Sanwo-Olu also spotlighted Lagos’ trajectory toward becoming the ninth-largest city economy in the world by 2030, with a population exceeding 30 million and one of Africa’s most vibrant consumer markets.
He emphasized Lagos’ dominance in Africa’s tech ecosystem, housing over 2,500 startups, including unicorns like Flutterwave and Andela.
Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, emphasized the bank’s commitment to shifting Nigeria-U.S. trade beyond oil.
She noted that while Nigeria’s non-oil exports currently stand at under $5 billion annually, the potential is immense, particularly in agriculture, fashion, and creative industries.
Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe highlighted Georgia’s world-class logistics infrastructure, vibrant diaspora, and progressive trade policies as a natural fit for Nigeria’s transformation toward a non-oil export-driven economy.
The FNITCC Atlanta 2025 marks the third edition of Fidelity Bank’s global trade initiative, following successful outings in London and Houston that unlocked over $500 million in export business.
This year’s edition is expected to generate a trade and investment pipeline of over $300 million.
Fidelity Bank’s commitment to empowering Nigerian businesses for global competitiveness was applauded by Atlanta Mayor, Andre Dickens, who highlighted the city’s shared cultural and economic legacies with Africa.
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