Yemisi Izuora
Stanbic IBTC Bank has successfully concluded its strategic participation at GTR West Africa 2025, reinforcing its commitment to advancing trade finance solutions and digital innovation across the region.
The two-day conference, held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos on 24-25 April 2025, brought together over 400 delegates from more than 200 companies to address critical challenges and opportunities in Nigeria and beyond.
As a key event sponsor, Stanbic IBTC Bank showcased its comprehensive suite of trade finance solutions to help businesses navigate global trade realignments while capitalising on emerging opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking on the event, Jesuseun Fatoyinbo, Head, Transaction Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, emphasised that the GTR West Africa 2025 indicates that digital transformation is now essential for maintaining market access and staying competitive. “We are committed to bridging the digital divide through our advanced trade platforms that eliminate friction points and enable businesses of all sizes to participate effectively in global and regional trade.”
Stanbic IBTC Bank’s delegation made significant contributions to the conference agenda, with senior executives participating in high-profile panel discussions. Ojinika Shote, Head, Sales, Transaction Banking, shared valuable insights on operational efficiency during the ‘Stripping out cost’ panel, highlighting innovative approaches to reducing trade finance expenses. Adewale Adekoya, Manager, Trade Products, Transaction Banking, lent his expertise to the ‘$1 trillion food economy’ discussion, addressing the region’s financial solutions for agricultural trade and food security challenges.
Commenting on the event, Eric Fajemisin, Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, emphasised the bank’s strategic vision: “Despite global uncertainties, West Africa holds enormous potential as the continent’s trade epicentre. We focus on developing tailored financial solutions that help businesses transform challenges into opportunities while promoting sustainable economic growth across the region.”
The conference underscored several priorities that align with Stanbic IBTC Bank’s strategic direction, including accelerating digital adoption across trade ecosystems, expanding access to trade finance for SMEs, developing innovative solutions for intra-African trade, and embedding sustainability principles in trade finance products.
“The insights gained at GTR West Africa 2025 will further enhance our ability to support clients through an evolving trade landscape. “We are particularly focused on helping businesses leverage the AfCFTA framework to expand their regional footprint while ensuring they can meet increasingly digital requirements in global markets,” added Fatoyinbo.
Stanbic IBTC Bank continues to invest in cutting-edge digital infrastructure and specialised expertise to maintain its position as a leading trade finance partner in West Africa, supporting businesses across various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and energy.