L-R: Mobolaji Sunmoni, Team Lead, Upstream; Abimbola Ogunyemi, Team Lead, Downstream 1; Tomilola Onasanya, Team Lead, Downstream 2 (all of Fidelity Bank Plc); Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay Media Limited; Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc; Patrick Akinwuntan, former Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria; and Amanda Ezeani, Relationship Manager – Energy Division, Fidelity Bank Plc; at the 2026 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards which held in Lagos where Onyeali-Ikpe received the Award for Excellence in Banking Leadership and Fidelity Bank was named Best Bank in Oil and Gas Financing.
By Peace Udugba — The Daily Torch Media
Fidelity Bank Plc and its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, have received two major recognitions at the 2026 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
While Onyeali-Ikpe clinched the Award for Excellence in Banking Leadership, Fidelity Bank was named Best Bank in Oil and Gas Financing at the 14th edition of the awards held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The double recognition highlights the bank’s leadership and contributions to financing critical sectors of Nigeria’s economy, particularly the oil and gas industry.
According to BusinessDay Media Limited, the leadership award recognises banking executives who have demonstrated institutional growth, enhanced shareholder value, promoted innovation and financial inclusion, and contributed to the development of Nigeria’s financial services sector.
Reacting to the honour, Onyeali-Ikpe expressed appreciation to the organisers and dedicated the award to the bank’s customers, board, management and employees.
She described the recognition as a collective achievement, acknowledging the contributions of stakeholders whose commitment continues to support the bank’s growth and transformation.
“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.
Invoking the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasises shared identity and collective responsibility, the Fidelity Bank chief executive added that the award also belonged to the institution’s workforce and leadership.
“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’s Banking Leadership
Onyeali-Ikpe has more than three decades of experience in the banking industry, spanning retail, corporate and commercial banking, treasury operations and business development.
Since assuming office as chief executive, she has led Fidelity Bank through a period of growth and expansion of its international operations.
A notable development during her tenure was the acquisition of the former Union Bank UK, now known as FidBank UK Limited, as the bank continued to strengthen its international presence.
Her recognition at the BAFI Awards reflects the importance of leadership, strategic growth and innovation in an increasingly competitive financial services industry.
Fidelity Bank’s Oil and Gas Financing Portfolio
The bank’s second award, Best Bank in Oil and Gas Financing, recognises its involvement in projects supporting Nigeria’s energy value chain.
Among the projects financed by Fidelity Bank is the development of an onshore crude oil export terminal at the Otakikpo Marginal Field in Rivers State.
The bank also supported the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Terminal in Lekki, Lagos, and part-financed 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 naira- and dollar-denominated financing to indigenous contractors executing projects for Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo).
These financing initiatives support infrastructure development, strengthen the participation of indigenous businesses in the energy sector and contribute to improved petroleum product distribution and gas availability.
Investment in critical energy infrastructure is also expected to support the broader development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, particularly through increased local participation and improved operational capacity.
Recognition for Banking and Economic Development
The two awards reinforce Fidelity Bank’s position in Nigeria’s financial services sector and highlight the role of financial institutions in supporting economic growth through strategic financing.
By backing projects across the energy value chain, the bank continues to participate in financing infrastructure considered essential to Nigeria’s energy security and industrial development.
The recognition of Onyeali-Ikpe also places a spotlight on executive leadership and the importance of institutional performance, innovation and customer-focused banking in driving sustainable growth.
Tags: Fidelity Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, 2026 BAFI Awards, BusinessDay Awards, Oil and Gas Financing, Nigerian Banks, FidBank UK, SNEPCo
