FirstBank Drives SME Growth with AI-Focused SMEConnect Webinar

. FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, West Africa’s premier financial institution and a leading advocate for financial inclusion, has announced the upcoming edition of its SMEConnect Webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The initiative is designed to equip small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with practical knowledge and tools to harness the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for business growth.

Themed “AI for Business Growth: From Adoption to Integration and Scalable Impact,” this edition underscores the increasing relevance of AI in today’s fast-evolving digital economy. The session will provide SMEs with actionable insights on leveraging AI to boost productivity, streamline operations, enhance customer engagement, and make smarter, data-driven decisions.

The webinar will feature a lineup of seasoned industry experts, including Temitope Odude, Senior AI Solutions Architect at Microsoft, who will deliver global perspectives on integrating AI into everyday business processes. Other speakers include Abednego Ugwueke, Head of Digital Channels, and Ibidun Adedewe, Head of SME Acquisition & Partnerships at FirstBank.

Speaking ahead of the event, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, emphasized the critical role of SMEs in economic development:

“SMEs are the backbone of the Nigerian economy, and at FirstBank, we recognise that the economy cannot thrive without them. As a committed growth partner, this session reinforces our focus on innovation, including AI-enabled credit scoring that has facilitated over ₦1 trillion in instant loans to micro-SMEs. We are equipping business owners with the practical insights needed to scale sustainably in a digital-first economy.”

He further encouraged entrepreneurs to take advantage of the session for hands-on guidance in integrating AI into their operations.

Interested SME owners and entrepreneurs can register for the webinar via the official portal: https://firstbanknigeria.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cUr1LhWFQXymTqWtONOOVg⁠�

The SMEConnect Webinar series remains one of FirstBank’s flagship platforms, consistently delivering strategic insights and practical support to SMEs. The Bank’s commitment to empowering businesses has earned it multiple recognitions, including Best SME Bank in Nigeria and Best SME Bank in Africa by the TAB Global Excellence in Retail Finance Awards (as at 2025), as well as SME Financier of the Year – Nigeria by The Digital Banker.

With this upcoming session, FirstBank continues to position itself at the forefront of innovation, enabling SMEs to unlock new growth opportunities through technology-driven solutions.