Yemisi Izuora
Stanbic IBTC Bank, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings and a member of Standard Bank Group, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing trade and economic growth in West Africa following the successful conclusion of GTR West Africa 2026, where the Bank served as lead sponsor. The two-day conference, which was held on 22 and 23 April 2026 at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, brought together policymakers, financial institutions, corporates and fintech players to discuss the evolving landscape of regional and global trade.
The event attracted over 400 delegates from more than 200 organisations, spanning sectors including banking, fintech, agribusiness and logistics; underscoring its position as a critical platform for shaping trade finance dialogue in the region.
The conference opened with a keynote address by Tedd George, Founder & Chief Narrative Officer, Kleos Advisory Ltd, focused on harnessing improving macroeconomic stability to drive sustainable trade growth across West Africa. Subsequent sessions explored export diversification, supply chain finance and agribusiness-led trade, supported by practical case studies highlighting real-world applications.
Day two centred on digital trade and financial inclusion, with discussions on Africa’s mobile-first economy and contributions from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Digital Standards Initiative, which emphasised the importance of accelerating the digitisation of global trade finance.
Stanbic IBTC Bank’s participation followed closely on the heels of Standard Bank Group’s engagement at the GTR Africa Conference in Cape Town, reinforcing the Group’s pan-African approach to advancing trade and financial integration across key markets.
Commenting on the Bank’s role at the conference, Jesuseun Fatoyinbo, Head of Transaction Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank, said the institution remains focused on delivering innovative solutions that respond to the shifting needs of businesses engaged in trade.
“At Stanbic IBTC Bank, we are steadfast in our commitment to driving economic growth through innovative transaction banking solutions. The trade finance landscape is evolving rapidly, and it is our responsibility to continuously adapt and strengthen our offerings to support our clients,” Fatoyinbo said.
“We understand the unique challenges faced by exporters and importers, particularly within agribusiness, and provide tailored solutions that simplify trade finance, enabling businesses to focus on growth and productivity.”
Also reflecting on the conference, Eric Fajemisin, Executive Director, Corporate and Transaction Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, highlighted the strategic importance of GTR West Africa to the region’s trade ecosystem.
“We leave this year’s GTR even more inspired as always, by the quality of engagement and the opportunities identified; and more committed than ever to enabling trade and economic development across Nigeria and the wider West African region. Trade finance is not peripheral to development, it is fundamental to it,” Fajemisin said.
Delegates from Stanbic IBTC Bank and Standard Bank Group contributed actively to the programme. Adedayo Adesanmi, Senior Vice-President, Structured Trade Finance, Standard Bank Group, shared insights on scaling supply chain finance and strengthening domestic value chains, while identifying cross-border growth opportunities.
In a dedicated agribusiness case study session, Seun Ogundolapo, Head of Trade Transaction Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, alongside Sreenivas Alagonda, Chief Financial Officer, Robust International Commodities, examined the practical delivery of structured commodity trade finance solutions.
The conference also welcomed senior trade finance leaders from across the Group, including Prince Baffour Agyei, Acting Head, Trade Working Capital, Stanbic Bank Ghana; Shunker Amish, Head, Transaction Banking Trade Distribution & Syndication, Standard Bank Group; and Joseph Anagblah, Head, Sales, Transaction Banking, Stanbic Bank Ghana; reinforcing the Group’s strong pan-African collaboration and continued support for the GTR platform.
As lead sponsor, Stanbic IBTC Bank hosted clients and stakeholders throughout the conference, facilitating high-level engagement, knowledge sharing and cross-sector networking. Through thought leadership panels and practical case studies, the Bank demonstrated its continuing focus on expanding access to trade finance and supporting businesses of all sizes.
Stanbic IBTC Bank remains committed to strengthening the trade finance ecosystem in Nigeria and across West Africa; helping businesses navigate complexity, unlock new opportunities and thrive in an increasingly interconnected global economy.