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ACCESS Bank Plc has announced the distinguished lineup of speakers for the 2nd African Trade Conference (ATC2026), scheduled to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Center in South Africa on March 11, 2026.
Building on the strong foundations of the inaugural conference, ATC 2026 convenes an unprecedented gathering of global and African leaders, policymakers, investors and business executives committed to shaping the future of trade on the continent.
The African Trade Conference has rapidly emerged as a leading platform for promoting dialogue and action on Africa’s evolving role in global trade.
The 2026 edition will feature influential voices from finance, government, development agencies and the private sector who will share insights on unlocking trade opportunities, strengthening intra-African commerce, enabling business expansion and positioning African businesses for global competitiveness.
The confirmed speakers represent strong leaders driving Africa’s economic transformation.
Building on the momentum of the inaugural event, which brought together senior decision-makers from 28 countries, the 2026 conference, themed “Transforming vision into velocity: Building an African trade ecosystem with real-world impact,” will feature keynote speeches from Kennedy Mbekeani, African Development Bank (AfDB) Regional Director for Southern Africa, and Kwabena Airebi, Managing Director of Banking Operations at the African Development Bank. Export-Import Bank. Their joint keynote will address the evolving financial landscape for African trade and strategic pathways to unlock the continent’s prosperity.
Welcome remarks will be delivered by Roosevelt Ogbonna, CEO/GMD of Access Bank, who will set the tone for discussions centered on trade transformation, financial inclusion and regional competitiveness, while Tolu Oyekan, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, will provide insights on the Africa Trade Outlook 2026, which examines emerging macroeconomic trends, supply chain changes and growth opportunities across key sectors.
Mike Ogbal, CEO of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, will interact with conference participants on the theme “Building a Connected Africa through Trade, Payments and Technology” and will focus on how payments interoperability and digital infrastructure can accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.
The conference will also host a high-level ministerial panel with the participation of Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry. Tiloaone Ntsima, Botswana Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship; The panel includes policymakers shaping trade policy across the continent, including Florian Witt, Head of International and Corporate Banking at Oddo-BHF, Nathalie Luato, Global Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Dr. Isaiah Latumba, Head of Limpopo’s Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Department, and Alfred Idiale, Chief Managing Officer of Deutsche Bank.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, said:
“The African Trade Conference reflects our unwavering commitment to driving Africa’s economic transformation by building a platform that brings together the leaders, institutions and ideas that will shape the future of trade. It emphasizes the urgency and opportunity. Africa is not only participating in global trade, but also contributing to redefining it. Through this conference, we aim to foster partnerships, create new opportunities for business, and accelerate Africa’s integration into global values. ”
“At Access Bank, we see ourselves as more than just a financier, we see ourselves as a connector of markets, ideas and opportunities. Our role is to help African businesses move from ambition to impact, from local relevance to global competitiveness.”
With operations in 24 countries around the world, including 16 countries across Africa, Access Bank’s vast footprint uniquely positions it to facilitate cross-border trade, unlock regional value chains and simplify the complexities of doing business across markets.
“Our presence across Africa and major global corridors gives us a front row seat to the realities of trade. It also gives us the responsibility to design solutions that are comprehensive, scalable and future-proof. ATC 2026 is part of that effort, Ogbonna added.”
ATC 2026 is expected to foster partnerships, enable policy dialogue and provide actionable strategies for companies operating within and beyond the continent.
The head of Access Bank said: “Africa will not be a bystander in the restructuring of global trade. We will be among its architects. ATC 2026 is where those blueprints will be drawn.”
A.I.
February 27, 2026
Tags: Access Bank Plc ATC 2026 Mike Ogbalu Roosevelt Ogbonna
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