…As Onyeali-Ikpe Receives Special Recognition Award at Beauty in the Motherland 2026
Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s beauty industry and women-owned businesses, celebrating industry excellence at the commemorative dinner and awards ceremony of Beauty in the Motherland 2026.
The ceremony, held on October 6, 2026, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, celebrated creativity, entrepreneurship and impact across the beauty and lifestyle sectors.
The event formed part of the three-day Beauty in the Motherland 2026 programme, which attracted more than 3,000 attendees and over 300 exhibitors across skincare, haircare, fragrance, cosmetics, wellness and related industries.
Hosted by Nancy Isime and Enioluwa Adeoluwa, the dinner brought together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, creatives and other stakeholders. Nigerian music star Yemi Alade added glamour to the occasion with a live performance.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of a special recognition award to Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, in recognition of her leadership and the bank’s contribution to the growth of Beauty in the Motherland and the wider beauty enterprise ecosystem in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Onyeali-Ikpe said Fidelity Bank’s sponsorship of the programme for the third consecutive year reflected its confidence in the potential of the beauty industry and the entrepreneurs driving its growth.
She described the African beauty industry as vibrant, innovative and increasingly positioned for global recognition, stressing the importance of equipping entrepreneurs with the resources and expertise needed to build sustainable businesses.
According to her, Fidelity Bank remains committed to helping beauty entrepreneurs acquire relevant knowledge, access financing, explore new markets and strengthen their business operations.
The recognition also underscored the bank’s growing role in supporting an industry driven significantly by women entrepreneurs and young business owners.
Beyond sponsoring the dinner and exhibition, Fidelity Bank provided participating businesses with account-opening assistance, payment solutions and advisory services.
The bank also served as the event’s exclusive point-of-sale (POS) provider, facilitating vendor collections and encouraging the adoption of digital payment solutions.
Products and services showcased included Fidelity POS Instant Settlement, PayGate Plus and SME accounts. Bank representatives also engaged exhibitors on financial management, business expansion and access to appropriate banking services.
Beauty in the Motherland 2026 featured exhibitions, product showcases, competitions, networking sessions and business discussions, providing entrepreneurs with opportunities to showcase their products, connect with customers and establish relationships with distributors, business partners and potential investors.
The organisers, Beatrice Obinna Eneh and Linda Edozien, said the initiative was established to celebrate and advance the human and natural resources underpinning Africa’s beauty industry.
They explained that its long-term ambition was to strengthen industry structures, empower entrepreneurs and improve access to markets, thereby creating more opportunities for sustainable growth across the beauty value chain.
Fidelity Bank continues to support small and medium-sized enterprises through initiatives such as the Fidelity SME Hub, Fidelity Quarterly Business Forum, SME masterclasses, HerFidelity and FundHer. These platforms provide access to financing, business advisory services, capacity development, digital solutions and market opportunities.
The successful dinner and awards ceremony highlighted the importance of recognising the entrepreneurs, professionals and institutions contributing to the development of Nigeria’s beauty industry.
Through its sustained partnership with Beauty in the Motherland, Fidelity Bank is reinforcing its commitment to financial inclusion, women’s economic empowerment and the growth of beauty businesses across Nigeria.
