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| L-R: Evelyn Paul, Project Director, African Marketplace; Kafui Bimpe, Head, SME Africa, Access Bank; Ibukun Awosika, Founder, African Marketplace; and Eugenia Oduraa Addo, Head, SME Support, Access Bank Ghana at the inaugural African Marketplace Dubai 2025 event recently. |
The landmark event attracted over 300 curated African brands and participants drawn from more than 200 countries, creating a vibrant platform for cross-border trade, investment, and global market access for African businesses.
As a leading financial institution with a strong pan-African footprint, Access Bank leveraged the event to showcase its commitment to supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and strengthening intra-African and international trade. The bank’s participation underscored its strategic role in facilitating payments, trade finance, and business growth across key sectors including fashion, arts and crafts, furniture, food, and technology.
Speaking at the opening session, the host and founder of IALA, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, described the African Marketplace as a celebration of African enterprise and innovation. She said the platform was designed not only to promote trade but also to build lasting relationships that would unlock new opportunities for African businesses globally.
“This is about connecting the world to the incredible potential Africa holds. African entrepreneurs are resilient, innovative and creative, and this platform gives them the visibility and access they deserve,” Awosika stated.
Access Bank’s SME focus was further reinforced during the keynote address delivered by Kafui Bimpe, Head of SME, African Subsidiaries, who highlighted the bank’s long-term vision of positioning African businesses for global competitiveness.
“At Access Bank, our vision is clear – to be Africa’s Gateway to the World. This drives our commitment to promoting intra-African trade, enhancing cross-border payments and empowering SMEs to grow from local champions into global competitors,” Bimpe said.
Throughout the event, Access Bank showcased a range of SME-focused solutions aimed at helping businesses scale sustainably. These include improved access to finance, capacity-building initiatives, tailored mentorship programmes and strategic partnerships designed to strengthen resilience and accelerate growth.
The message of Africa’s growing relevance in global trade was echoed by President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo, who delivered a keynote address at the event. The Togolese leader declared that Africa had moved beyond being a continent of potential to one of active value creation.
“Africa’s era of potential is over. The continent is now creating, innovating and claiming its rightful place in global trade,” President Gnassingbé said.
Access Bank noted that its sponsorship of African Marketplace Dubai 2025 aligns with its broader objective of deepening economic integration across Africa and creating platforms where African entrepreneurs can engage directly with international investors.
The bank said the event provided tangible opportunities for African businesses to forge partnerships, expand their market reach and attract foreign direct investment, while also strengthening Africa’s position in the global trade ecosystem.
Reaffirming its long-term commitment, Access Bank disclosed plans to host the second edition of the Access Trade Conference (ATC) in Cape Town in 2026. The conference is expected to build on the momentum from Dubai by further advancing conversations around trade facilitation, innovation and cross-border collaboration across the continent.
According to the bank, the upcoming ATC will serve as a strategic platform to deepen SME engagement, connect African markets and reinforce Access Bank’s role as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth across Africa.