As part of its ongoing commitment to empower women entrepreneurs with essential skills, Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, partnered with ImpactHER to provide a comprehensive training program on digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills for businesswomen. Held from Monday, August 19 to Friday, August 23, 2024, the training successfully equipped 1,276 women entrepreneurs with cutting-edge knowledge in digital technology and AI, helping them scale their businesses and enhance their market competitiveness.
Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Osita Ede, Divisional Head of Product Development at Fidelity Bank Plc, emphasized the vital role of women-led businesses in Nigeria’s economy. “Current data shows that women-led small businesses make up over 40% of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria. This reflects the significant contribution of female entrepreneurs to economic growth,” Ede stated. “At Fidelity Bank, we are dedicated to empowering female entrepreneurs with the skills necessary for business success, fostering individual growth, business prosperity, and economic development in alignment with our corporate mission.”
The training, delivered by ImpactHER, covered a range of topics essential for leveraging technology in business. Participants gained insights into “Getting Started with Email Marketing,” “How to Harness AI for Content Creation as a Small Business Owner,” and “Branding and Positioning,” among other subjects. This knowledge is vital for women entrepreneurs looking to innovate and expand their businesses in an increasingly digital world.
Efe Ukala, Founder of ImpactHER, underscored the need for such training programs, especially for African women. “Statistics indicate that women and girls are 25% less likely to use digital technology for basic tasks, four times less likely to learn computer programming, and 13 times less likely to file for technology patents. These disparities highlight the need to equip African women with digital skills that can transform their businesses. If we close the digital gap in e-commerce, Africa could add $180 billion to its GDP by 2025. By offering this training at no cost and partnering with supporters like Fidelity Bank, we aim to make these crucial skills accessible to women entrepreneurs who are key drivers of economic growth.”
The collaboration between Fidelity Bank and ImpactHER demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering women’s entrepreneurship through free, high-quality training. By combining ImpactHER’s expertise with Fidelity Bank’s extensive network and support for small businesses, the program aims to create lasting impacts on the business community.
Participants praised the program for its practical approach and the immediate applicability of the skills learned. The success of this initiative has set a precedent for future collaborations aimed at empowering more women entrepreneurs across Nigeria. With the completion of the August 2024 cohort, the partnership has now trained a total of 5,719 women entrepreneurs.
Fidelity Bank, recognized as one of Nigeria’s top banks, serves over 8.3 million customers across 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, in addition to its digital banking channels. The bank has received multiple awards, including Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023, and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. Furthermore, it was named 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.
