By Jennete Ugo Anya
As the curtains close on the 3rd Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC) 2025, NEXIM Bank emerges as a key player in bridging Africa’s export ambitions with global markets.
Held from September 18-20 in the bustling heart of Atlanta, the event – organized by Fidelity Bank in collaboration with AFRICON – drew business leaders, policymakers, and innovators to forge connections amid a pivotal moment for African trade.
At the forefront was Mr. Abba Bello, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NEXIM Bank, whose participation underscored the agency’s role as Nigeria’s premier export credit institution. With a robust $50 billion capital base and a track record of empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs), NEXIM has disbursed N420 billion in concessionary loans to non-oil exporters, fueling the creation of 12,000 jobs.
This aligns with the bank’s broader mission of driving inclusive growth and expanding access to export finance for Nigerian businesses, including a fresh 2025 partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to supercharge SME exports.
Unlocking Capital in a Shifting Global Landscape
The event’s high point came during a panel on ‘Unlocking Capital for Global Export Competitiveness,’ where Mr. Bello, a banking veteran with 30 years of experience, shared actionable strategies for leveraging strategic financing to elevate African exports.
“Africa’s trade growth does not have to hinge on oil,” Mr. Bello emphasized, challenging longstanding narratives. He highlighted NEXIM’s $430 billion asset base as a catalyst for diversifying into fintech and service exports, drawing parallels to Tunisia’s post-1995 success with EU trade agreements, which boosted non-extractive sectors like textiles and agriculture.
This push arrives at a critical juncture. Africa’s export market is projected to hit $1 trillion by 2030, according to African Development Bank (AfDB) data, yet only five countries – including Tunisia and Morocco – boast truly competitive non-extractive exports, per a 2020 African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) analysis.
FNITCC aims to change that, targeting $400 million in trade deals to integrate Nigerian and African exporters into global supply chains. The event smartly taps into the $500 billion African diaspora market in the U.S., capitalizing on rising demand for African minerals, produce, and creative goods.
Adding urgency is the impending expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) on September 30, 2025 – just days away – which has granted duty-free access to U.S. markets for two decades. Media reports would state that its sunset is spurring African nations to scout alternatives, with Mr. Bello advocating for fintech as a lifeline.
A parallel panel on ‘Digital Railroads’ delved into real-time payments and SME financing, echoing the World Bank’s 2023 report that fintech slashes cross-border transaction costs by 15-20%, directly enhancing Africa’s global edge. Broader World Bank research from the same year further shows a 15% competitiveness boost for developing economies armed with tailored financial ecosystems – a blueprint NEXIM is actively implementing.
A Collaborative Blueprint
FNITCC’s fusion of trade and creative exchange is not just talk; it is a strategic pivot toward fintech-driven solutions. Fidelity Bank’s partnership with NEXIM and AFRICON exemplifies this, blending Nigeria’s export prowess with Atlanta’s innovation hub status. For attendees, the event offered tangible outcomes: networking sessions that linked Nigerian producers with U.S. buyers, workshops on sustainable supply chains, and deal rooms buzzing with potential pacts.
As Mr. Bello wrapped his contributions, his message resonated: Africa’s future lies in inclusive, diversified trade. NEXIM’s commitment shines through its job-creating loans and SME focus, proving that with the right financing, Nigerian businesses can compete – and thrive – on the world stage. In a year of trade flux, events like FNITCC remind us that opportunity knocks loudest for those ready to answer.
