Fidelity Bank, Onyeali-Ikpe Win Double Honours at 2026 BAFI Awards

Fidelity Bank Plc and its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, have received two awards at the 14th edition of the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards in Lagos.

While Onyeali-Ikpe received the Award for Excellence in Banking Leadership, Fidelity Bank was named Best Bank in Oil and Gas Financing in recognition of its support for projects across Nigeria’s energy value chain.

The awards were presented at a ceremony held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, bringing together stakeholders in the banking and financial services industry.

According to BusinessDay Media Limited, the leadership award recognises banking executives who have driven institutional growth, strengthened shareholder value, promoted innovation and financial inclusion, and contributed to the development of Nigeria’s financial services sector.

Speaking after receiving the award, Onyeali-Ikpe expressed appreciation to the organisers, dedicating the recognition to the bank’s customers, board, management and employees.

“I am deeply honoured to receive the Award for Excellence in Banking Leadership. I sincerely thank BusinessDay Media Limited for this recognition and dedicate it to our valued customers, whose trust and support have strengthened and inspired me throughout my career,” she said.

She also acknowledged the contributions of the bank’s workforce, drawing on the African philosophy of Ubuntu to emphasise the importance of collective effort in institutional success.

“The African philosophy of Ubuntu teaches us, ‘I am because we are.’ In that spirit, this honour also belongs to the board, management and staff of Fidelity Bank Plc, whose dedication and professionalism continue to drive our vision of a stronger, more innovative and customer-focused financial institution,” she added.

Onyeali-Ikpe has more than three decades of banking experience spanning retail, corporate and commercial banking, treasury and business development.

Since assuming office as chief executive, she has overseen the bank’s growth and expansion of its international operations, including the acquisition of the former Union Bank UK, now known as FidBank UK Limited.

The second award recognised Fidelity Bank’s financing of projects designed to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, particularly in infrastructure development, local participation and petroleum product distribution.

Among the projects supported by the bank is the development of an onshore crude oil export terminal at the Otakikpo Marginal Field in Rivers State.

The bank also provided financing support for the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Terminal in Lekki, Lagos, while part-financing a 23,000-cubic-metre liquefied petroleum gas carrier for Temile Development Company Limited.

In addition, Fidelity Bank participated in the $3 billion SNEPCo Contractor Finance Facility, which provides financing in naira and foreign currency to indigenous contractors executing projects for Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company.

The facility is intended to improve access to funding for local contractors, enabling them to participate more effectively in major oil and gas projects and contribute to the development of domestic technical and operational capacity.

The bank’s support for these projects reflects the importance of financing in addressing infrastructure gaps across Nigeria’s energy industry. Investments in crude oil export facilities, petroleum storage and distribution infrastructure, as well as gas transportation, are critical to improving the movement of energy products and strengthening supply chains.

Access to financing remains a major consideration for indigenous companies seeking to participate in capital-intensive oil and gas projects, where long development timelines and substantial investment requirements can constrain local operators.

Through its involvement in the projects, Fidelity Bank has positioned itself among financial institutions providing funding for activities across different segments of the energy value chain.

The bank’s recognition at the BAFI Awards comes amid growing emphasis on the role of financial institutions in supporting productive sectors of the economy, including oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture and infrastructure.

The two awards underscore Fidelity Bank’s achievements in banking leadership and energy-sector financing, while highlighting the contribution of financial institutions to Nigeria’s broader economic development.

The 2026 BAFI Awards recognise performance and contributions across the banking and other financial services industries, providing a platform for acknowledging institutions and executives whose activities shape the country’s financial landscape.