FirstBank to equip SMEs with AI strategies in upcoming SMEConnect webinar

FirstBank, one of West Africa’s leading financial institutions, has announced the next edition of its SMEConnect Webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The session aims to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with practical knowledge on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive business growth and competitiveness in a fast-changing digital economy.

In a statement on Thursday, the bank said the webinar—tagged “AI for Business Growth: From Adoption to Integration and Scalable Impact”—is designed to expose SMEs to real, actionable strategies for applying AI to enhance productivity, streamline operations, deepen customer engagement and make informed, data-driven decisions.

The virtual event will feature seasoned experts, including Temitope Odude, Senior AI Solutions Architect at Microsoft, who will offer insights into AI adoption and integration for everyday business operations. Other speakers include FirstBank executives: Abednego Ugwueke, Head of Digital Channels, and Ibidun Adedewe, Head of SME Acquisition & Partnerships.

Speaking ahead of the programme, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, noted that SMEs remain central to Nigeria’s economic resilience.

“SMEs are the backbone of the Nigerian economy, and at FirstBank, we recognise that the economy cannot thrive without them,” he said. “We have demonstrated our commitment through innovations such as AI-enabled credit scoring, which has facilitated over ₦1 trillion in instant loans for micro-SMEs. This webinar will further equip business owners with practical AI insights to help them scale and achieve sustainable growth.”

SME operators and entrepreneurs can register for the event through a dedicated Zoom link provided by the bank.

The SMEConnect Webinar series is part of FirstBank’s broader effort to strengthen SME capacity through knowledge-sharing, advisory support and digital innovation. The bank’s consistent commitment to the sector has earned it multiple recognitions, including Best SME Bank in Nigeria and Best SME Bank in Africa at the TAB Global Excellence in Retail Finance Awards, as well as SME Financier of the Year–Nigeria awarded by The Digital Banker.

FirstBank says the upcoming webinar reflects its ongoing mission to empower SMEs with tools essential for navigating the evolving digital and economic landscape.