In a decisive move underscoring unwavering confidence in Fidelity Bank Plc’s resilience, Managing Director and CEO, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, has acquired an additional 18 million shares of the bank, valued at approximately N366 million.
According to a regulatory filing posted on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) disclosures portal, this strategic investment was executed at N20.35 per share on May 19, 2025, the same day an online platform published a report on a Supreme Court’s ruling in a decades-long case that the bank inherited from the defunct FSB International Bank it absorbed in 2005.
Onyeali-Ikpe’s latest acquisition is not an isolated gesture Between November 21 and 22, 2024, she purchased 15 million shares worth N239.4 million and subsequently added another 10 million shares valued at N157.9 million on November 26 and 27, 2024.
The cumulative investments reflect a consistent pattern of personal commitment to the bank’s long-term success. The CEO’s substantial personal investments serve as a powerful testament to her confidence in Fidelity Bank’s strategic direction and financial health.
Fidelity Bank’s financial results further validate this confidence. In the first quarter of 2025, the bank reported a Profit Before Tax of N105.8 billion, marking a 167.8 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Gross earnings rose by 64.2 per cent year-on-year to N315.4 billion, driven by significant growth in interest income and non-interest revenue.
The tier-one lender’s balance sheet remains solid, with total deposits increasing by 11.1 per cent year-to-date to N6.6 trillion, and net loans and advances growing by five per cent to N4.6 trillion. These figures highlight Fidelity Bank’s strong liquidity position and its capacity to support large-scale projects and absorb financial shocks.
Fidelity Bank’s share price has demonstrated resilience. After reaching N21 on May 13, 2025, the stock experienced a modest decline, closing at N20, a 3.8 per cent decrease. This stability suggests that investors remain confident in the bank’s fundamentals and leadership.
