FirstBank to Host SMEConnect Webinar on AI-Driven Growth for Small Businesses

 FirstBank to Host SMEConnect Webinar on AI-Driven Growth for Small Businesses

First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced plans to host its SMEConnect Webinar on March 31, 2026, aimed at equipping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with practical knowledge on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to drive business growth and operational efficiency.

LAGOS — FirstBank has unveiled the next edition of its SMEConnect Webinar, a strategic initiative designed to support SMEs with innovative tools and insights for navigating the evolving digital economy.

Scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the virtual session will focus on the theme, “AI for Business Growth: From Adoption to Integration and Scalable Impact.” The webinar is tailored to educate entrepreneurs on how artificial intelligence can be effectively deployed to enhance productivity, streamline operations, improve customer engagement, and enable data-driven decision-making.

The session will feature industry experts, including Temitope Odude, Senior AI Solutions Architect at Microsoft, who will provide global perspectives on integrating AI into business operations. Other speakers include Abednego Ugwueke, Head of Digital Channels, and Ibidun Adedewe, Head of SME Acquisition and Partnerships at FirstBank.

Speaking ahead of the event, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, emphasized the critical role SMEs play in Nigeria’s economy.

According to him, the bank remains committed to empowering small businesses through innovation, noting that its AI-enabled credit scoring system has facilitated the disbursement of over ₦1 trillion in instant loans to micro-SMEs.

He added that the webinar would provide business owners with hands-on guidance on adopting and integrating AI into their daily operations to achieve sustainable growth.

SMEConnect is one of FirstBank’s flagship platforms dedicated to supporting SMEs with practical knowledge and strategic insights. The bank has continued to receive industry recognition for its contributions to SME development, including being named Best SME Bank in Nigeria and Africa by TAB Global Excellence in Retail Finance Awards for two consecutive years as of 2025, as well as SME Financier of the Year in Nigeria by The Digital Banker.

Interested participants can register for the webinar via the bank’s official registration portal.

https://firstbanknigeria.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cUr1LhWFQXymTqWtONOOVg