The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) has recognised the GMDCEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe as one of the honorees in the 2024 Most Influential Global Top 100 Export and International Trade Edition.
The bank said in a statement issued by Mr Dan Preston Nwaokorie that the honour was announced during the celebration of Global Africa Day held recently under the theme ‘Championing the vision of Global Africa as a unified economic block and single market.’
Commenting on the initiative, Onyeali-Ikpe said her inclusion among the awardees was a testimony to the bank’s leadership in international trade.
“This recognition demonstrates our market leadership in the international trade space at Fidelity Bank and our devotion to helping Nigerian businesses play a more active role in the global trade space.
“Since 2022, we have hosted the largest private-sector driven trade expo tagged the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC) with hundreds of export businesses from Nigeria, off-takers in the UK and USA, investors, regulators, media and other key stakeholder in the trade sector. Through FITCC, we have closed deals totaling $450million.
“Our commitment as a bank is to do more in this space and we thank MIPAD for the recognition,” she said.
The other honourees in the global trade space of African descent included the president, African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, minister of trade and export promotion, Algeria, Mr Kamel Rezig, chairman, World Trade Centre, Accra, Ghana, Mr Togbe Afede, minister of industry, trade and investment, Nigeria, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; executive director and chief executive officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (Nigeria), Nonye Ayeni, executive vice president, Intra-African Trade Bank (IATB), Mr Kanayo Awani, director, Trade Development (Africa and Caribbean), World Trade Centre Miami, US, Kemi Arosanyin, secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade (United Kingdom/Nigeria), Kemi Badenoch, president, US-Africa Business Centre at US Chamber of Commerce, Kendra Gaither; and president of the Buenaventura Chamber of Commerce (Colombia), Milady Arboleda.
“These honorees are recognized for their groundbreaking achievements in Trade & Export and are called upon to champion the vision of a unified Global Africa as an economic block. This recognition aligns with the ethos of the International Decade for People of African Descent, highlighting MIPAD’s ongoing commitment to celebrating individuals, organizations, and governments demonstrating outstanding leadership in advancing people of African descent globally,” organisers of MIPAD was quoted as saying.
MIPAD is a global civil society initiative in support of the International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed by United Nations’ General Assembly resolution 68/237, to be observed from 2015 to 2024.
MIPAD identifies high achievers of African descent in public and private sectors from all around the world as a progressive network of relevant actors to join together in the spirit of recognition, justice and development.
Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank with over 8.3 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as on digital banking channels.
The bank has won multiple local and international awards including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards; Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023; and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
