Fidelity Bank Wins Double Honours at 2026 BAFI Awards as Onyeali-Ikpe Bags Banking Leadership Excellence Award

Fidelity Bank Plc has won two major honours at the 2026 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions, BAFI Awards, further cementing its leadership in Nigeria’s financial services sector.

The bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, was honoured with the Award for Excellence in Banking Leadership, while Fidelity Bank Plc emerged as Best Bank in Oil and Gas Financing.

The awards were presented at the 14th edition of the BAFI Awards organised by BusinessDay Media Limited and held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the organisers, the Excellence in Banking Leadership award recognises chief executives who have delivered exceptional institutional growth, enhanced shareholder value, driven innovation and financial inclusion, and made significant contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s financial services industry.

Responding to the honour, Onyeali-Ikpe expressed appreciation to BusinessDay and dedicated the award to the bank’s customers, board, management and staff.

She said she is deeply honoured to receive the Award for Excellence in Banking Leadership and sincerely thanks BusinessDay Media Limited for the recognition, dedicating it to valued customers whose trust and support have strengthened and inspired her throughout her career.

She added that the African philosophy of Ubuntu teaches that she is because they are, and in that spirit, the honour also belongs to the board, management and staff of Fidelity Bank Plc whose dedication and professionalism continue to drive the vision of a stronger, more innovative and customer-focused financial institution.

Onyeali-Ikpe brings over three decades of banking experience across retail, corporate and commercial banking, treasury and business development. Since assuming office as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, she has led Fidelity Bank through sustained profitability, growth and international expansion, including the acquisition of the former Union Bank UK, now FidBank UK Limited.

The Best Bank in Oil and Gas Financing award recognised Fidelity Bank’s consistent support for strategic projects across Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.

The bank financed the development of an onshore crude oil export terminal at the Otakikpo Marginal Field in Rivers State, supported the development of the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Terminal in Lekki, Lagos, and part-financed the acquisition of a 23,000-cubic-metre liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, carrier for Temile Development Company Limited.

Fidelity Bank also participated in the 3 billion dollars SNEPCo Contractor Finance Facility which provides naira and dollar financing to indigenous contractors working on Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCo, projects.

The projects are expected to boost local participation in the oil and gas industry, improve petroleum products distribution, enhance gas availability and strengthen critical energy infrastructure nationwide.

The double recognition at the 2026 BAFI Awards underscores Fidelity Bank’s growing influence in the banking industry and its commitment to financing critical sectors driving Nigeria’s economic development.