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.
