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Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner at the FITCC Event – Spectacular Photos

Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner, attended the Fidelity International Trade & Creative Connect (FITCC) conference where he gave an opening speech emphasizing the significance of hosting such a global event in the fourth-largest city in the United States. October 24-25, Fidelity Bank Plc. Nigeria premiered this international trade and creative fair attracting the brightest minds and industry leaders to explore the ever-evolving landscape of international trade, exports, and creative connections.

Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner is being introduced to Mustafa Chike-Obi, Chairman of Fidelity Bank Nigeria by event facilitator, Linda Anukwuem.

Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner is being introduced to the President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah
To Mayor Turner, this event meant so much to his administrative agenda regarding global commerce. For instance, he just led a three-country trade mission to West Africa. He will out-serve his tenure next month, making this event his last endeavor to strengthen the City’s business ties with Africa.

Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner greets the President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah
Houston is designated as a hub for international commerce, known as the energy capital of the world, and a global leader in healthcare, aeronautics, advanced manufacturing, and innovation. Besides having the largest Nigerian population in the country, the city remains the most diverse, with over 2.5 million residents. The city also holds the largest port in the U.S. in foreign tonnage, two international airports, and the largest medical center in the world. In addition, more than 5,000 Houston companies are engaged in international business, and approximately 1,000 Houston firms report foreign ownership.
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Nigeria-based Women Group Excels at Fidelity Bank’s International Trade and Creative Fair Debut in Houston

Houston was set agog October 24-25 when the Fidelity Bank Plc. Nigeria unveiled its premier international trade and creative fair in Houston, Texas. The just concluded event called the “Fidelity International Trade & Creative Connect” (FITCC) attracted the brightest minds and industry leaders who swapped ideas, created trade/business partnerships, and navigated the ever-evolving landscape of international trade, exports, and creative connections.

President of AWEAA, Deborah Adebisi Odeleye (Right) and treasurer, Juliet Obi. The AWE program has been rewarded heavily for its role as a U.S. government-funded exchange program in over 100 countries, empowering women entrepreneurs by equipping them with knowledge, networks, and opportunities.
Among a long list of participants, partners, exhibitors, and supporters is the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Alumnae Association (AWEAA), a Nigerian-based organization with a mission to empower and support women as they embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Enriched with inspiring women fellows of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program, the AWE directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. At a local level, AWE harnesses the power of public-private sponsors and local partnerships to help women and their businesses attain economic growth and prosperity.
Attending the FITCC event thus offers the AWEE the opportunity to explore the global market, galvanize foreign direct investments, and create avenues to expand global outreach. According to the president of the group,
According to the President of AWEAA, Deborah Adebisi Odeleye, “We pretty much knew the importance of this event. That was why we opted for full participation. For instance, we had a booth and brought in the necessary resources to showcase our activities, goals, and potential as a global entity.”
Over 15 members of the AWAEE visited from Nigeria for this event. Adebisi Odeleye said, “Our presence here is to gain access to new markets. This is critical in navigating new grounds in building women’s entrepreneurship. For us, the FITCC created the opportunity for networking with fellow entrepreneurs and potential investors, thereby expanding our horizon in accomplishing our organizational mission and objectives.”
AWE program has been rewarded heavily for its role as a U.S. government-funded exchange program in over 100 countries, empowering women entrepreneurs by equipping them with knowledge, networks, and opportunities. “Our program’s alignment with the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality underscores our values in promoting gender equality on a global scale,” Adebisi Odeleye said.
The group’s treasurer, Juliet Obi, who equally was at the FITCC event encouraged women entrepreneurs to step forward in the world of exports and intensify their economic capacity and influence. “Global markets are enthusiastic about African products, and understand the dynamics and logistics of navigating this new territory.”
The FITCC which took place at the George R. Brown (GRB) Convention Center in Houston, presented the opportunity to harness the shared synergy of the Nigerian and US economic possibilities and created a fertile structure for business development. AWAEE supports women in scaling their businesses by providing the essential support, mentorship, and opportunities necessary for expansion.
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FITCC Partners with Texas Southern University

Partnership with the Texas Southern adds a new dimension to this event. For example, besides the SOC, the partnership will also include the Mickey Leland Center, Jesse Jones Business School, and the Barbara Jordan School of Public Affairs.
Fidelity International Trade & Creative Connect (FITCC) is collaborating with Texas Southern University (TSU) to engage student professionals in communication and to facilitate pre-event and on-site media coverage for the two-day trade fair. Paid student volunteers will write articles, shoot videos, and conduct on-the-scene interviews during the event. TSU’s Interim Dean of the School of Communications (SOC), Dr. Chris Ulasi confirmed this development, adding that “the SOC students have always excelled in collaborative coverage of major national and global events.”
Ulasi was right. In 2022, for instance, TSU joined Morgan State University in an all-expenses paid trip to the Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) in Monterey, California, where the TSU’s Jazz Ensemble, University Choir, and Journalism department joined 20 other jazz and choir students from Morgan State University, to perform. In the same period, a team of TSU journalists traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Democracy Summit at Howard University. The Democracy Summit brought in students from TSU and six other HBCUs, including Morehouse, Morgan State, Savannah State, Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, and North Carolina Central University.
Texas Southern University (TSU) student professionals in communication will facilitate pre-event and on-site media coverage for the two-day event. Photo by Arthur Murray (SOC-TSU)
The FITCC is one-of-its-kind. On October 24-25, at the George R. Brown (GRB) Convention Center in Houston, the Fidelity Bank Plc. Nigeria will premier this international trade and creative fair called Fidelity International Trade & Creative Connect (FITCC). The event is expected to attract thousands of participants from all over the world. These attendees would interact with the brightest minds and industry leaders who would exchange ideas, create trade/business partnerships, and navigate the ever-evolving landscape of international trade, exports, and creative connections.
As fundamental objectives, the FITCC conference will address the limitless market opportunities between Nigeria and the U.S. marketplace. The sole facilitator, Fidelity Bank Plc. Nigeria is a popular international commercial banking entity with over 7.2 million customers serviced across 250 business offices and other digital banking networks. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe said that the Bank has very much invested in supporting export trade.
Partnership with the Texas Southern adds a new dimension to this event. For example, besides the SOC, the partnership will also include the Mickey Leland Center, Jesse Jones Business School, and the Barbara Jordan School of Public Affairs. Deans and faculty members are invited for research-based presentations and speaking engagements. In addition, Exhibitor Booths will be provided for TSU, and space will be provided for the KTSU2 radio station.
SOC Students in action: Partnership with the Texas Southern adds a new dimension to this event. Photo by Arthur Murray (SOC-TSU)
According to The President of AIX LLC, the Houston-based facilitator of the conference, Linda Anukwuem, “Our partnership with TSU will allow a working collaboration with the students depending on their choice of study. We are excited about their participation and cannot wait to release more details soon.”
These students will also have the opportunity to meet or interview various dignitaries, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (CEO & Managing Director) of Fidelity Bank Nigeria, and Her Excellency Engr. Tamunominini Olufunke Makinde (First Lady of Oyo State, Nigeria), Benedict Oramah (President – Afrieximbank), Engr. Henry Obih (Independent Director-Fidelity Bank Nigeria), Ufo Eric-Atuanya (Senior Vice President, Global Business Development – Export-Import Bank of the US), 97.9 The Box – G.T. Mayne.
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