Winners Emerge in Fidelity SME Funding Competition 

Winners Emerge in Fidelity SME Funding Competition 

Market Doctor, an innovative healthcare provider that sets up clinics around clustered markets in the country has emerged the overall winner of the inaugural edition of the grants competition organised during the Fidelity SME Funding event in Lagos recently, carting away the corresponding N2 million cash prize.  

An initial 12 finalists emerged from more than 2,500 successful applicants who went through a rigorous and intensive selection process conducted by the renowned accounting and consultancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). 

The number was further cut down to five after another round of assessment and they were made to pitch to panel of judges during the SME Funding event. 

The independent judges led by Professor  Yinka David-West of the Lagos Business School, pronounced Market Doctor winner, in consideration of the profitability, viability, and scalability of her  business model.  

“We are thrilled to receive this grant by Fidelity Bank to scale our business and improve the wellbeing of Nigerians,” said an elated Miss Yetunde  Ayo-Oyalowo, Founder Market Doctor. 

Also, Healthy Nellies, a food production firm and Greenhill Recycling who emerged first and second runner up, respectively took home the sum of N1 million each. Other finalists included Adeyinka Tekenah of ‘Happy Coffee’ and Olalekan Afolayan of ‘PackMyLoad.com’ who smiled home consolation prizes of N500,000 each, whilst the remaining seven shortlisted SMEs received N200,000 each.

 Fidelity Bank CEO, Nnamdi Okonkwo, who commended the winners of the competition emphasised the importance of micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy. 

“MSMEs employ over 80 per cent of the country’s total 90.5 million labour force, contribute 48 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and constitute over 80 percent of registered exporters in Nigeria,” Okonkwo said

 

The grants competition was the highlight of the SME Funding conference themed: “Entrepreneurship Meets Capital,” that was organised by the bank to deepen the conversation on funding by bringing together small business owners, model entrepreneurs, fund providers, angel investors, private equity firms, venture capitalists under one roof. 

Whilst noting that the MSME sector remained largely bedevilled by a number of problems with limited financing options being one of the main drawbacks they face, the Fidelity boss said it was important for the bank as, “one of the best SME-friendly banks to come up with the initiative in furtherance of our support for the sector because of its contribution to economic development and poverty eradication.”

 The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat while delivering his keynote address on the occasion, commended the bank for the initiative. 

“What Fidelity Bank is doing is to create access to capital, which is the biggest threat to MSMEs. He advised financial institutions to borrow a leaf from Fidelity Bank. “The Lagos State Government is ready to create the enabling environment for the MSMEs to thrive,” he added.  

Other highlights include the unveiling of two new products for small businesses namely – Fidelity Business Plus Account and Fidelity Trader Support Facility by the bank as well as the networking opportunities provided by the small business owners to pitch their business to potential investors such as Sahel Capital Ventures, Verod Capital, African Capital Alliance, and Renaissance Capital. 

“One of the remarkable things about this our initiative is that we were able to bring small business owners and funds providers, model investors, private equity firms, Venture Capitals and Angel Investors worth over $1 billion together in one roof.  Truly remarkable,” the Divisional Head, Managed SMEs Fidelity Bank, Mr. Osaigbovo Omorogbe said.

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