21 May 2026
RMB Nigeria Limited reaffirmed its commitment to advancing trade and economic development across the region at the Global Trade Review (GTR) West Africa Conference 2026, held in Lagos recently.
Convening leading financiers, corporates, policymakers and trade experts, the two-day conference, themed “Financing Growth in West Africa’s Trade Epicentre”, provided a critical platform for addressing emerging challenges and opportunities shaping the region’s trade ecosystem. Discussions spanned export diversification, digital trade finance, infrastructure development, supply chain finance, and evolving global trade dynamics amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Export diversification
Paul Ozioko, Trade and Working Capital Structured Solutions Lead at RMB Nigeria, participated in a panel discussion on “Export diversification: Deploying specialised finance to achieve a strategic imperative.” He underscored the urgent need for West African economies to diversify export markets and reduce over-reliance on traditional trading partners, particularly in light of ongoing global disruptions, shifting trade routes, and geopolitical volatility.
He highlighted that while export diversification presents significant growth opportunities across regions such as Latin America, South Asia, and Europe, it also introduces new complexities for exporters such as market entry risks, regulatory hurdles, and liquidity constraints.
He emphasised the critical role of specialised trade finance solutions in navigating these challenges: “Structured financing, pre-export facilities, and tailored working capital solutions are essential tools to support exporters in scaling sustainably while managing risks.”
Connecting capital to opportunity
Seyi Onanuga, Treasury and Trade Solutions Head at RMB Nigeria, stressed the importance of collaboration and innovation in unlocking trade potential across the region: “The future of West African trade will be defined by how effectively we can connect capital to opportunity. At RMB, we are focused on building agile, client-centric solutions that not only address today’s trade challenges but also anticipate tomorrow’s market realities. Export diversification is a journey that requires strong financial partners, and we are committed to playing that enabling role.”
The conference further reinforced the growing relevance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in boosting intra-African trade, while acknowledging persistent bottlenecks with logistics, regulatory fragmentation and access to finance.
RMB Nigeria Limited’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to delivering innovative, client-centric solutions that support trade, unlock opportunities, and drive sustainable economic growth across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
About RMB Nigeria Limited
RMB Nigeria Limited, a member of FirstRand Group, is a leading African Corporate and Investment Bank. RMB Nigeria provides clients with innovative, value-added solutions across advisory, funding, trading, corporate banking, and principal investing. For more information, please visit RMB Nigeria.
