Access Bank Champions African SMEs at Africa Marketplace Dubai 2025
“Access Bank sponsors Africa Marketplace Dubai 2025, empowering African SMEs, boosting cross-border trade, and positioning Africa as a competitive force in global commerce.”
Access Bank Plc, in furtherance of its vision of being “Africa’s Gateway to the World,” has sponsored the inaugural Africa Marketplace Dubai 2025, an initiative of the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy (IALA). The high-profile event, held at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, brought together over 300 carefully curated African brands and participants from more than 200 countries, creating a strategic platform for cross-border trade, investment, and global market access.
Promoting Africa’s Global Trade Agenda
As a leading facilitator of trade, payments, and SME development across Africa, Access Bank’s participation underscored its sustained commitment to promoting intra-African trade and strengthening the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Bank’s presence at the pan-African trade and investment fair highlighted its strategic focus on enabling B2B and B2C linkages across key sectors, including fashion, arts and crafts, furniture, food, and technology.
Speaking at the opening session, Ibukun Awosika, founder of IALA and host of the event, emphasized the transformative power of African entrepreneurship.
“This platform is a testament to the resilience, innovation, and creativity that drive African businesses forward. It’s not just about trade; it’s about building relationships that will open new doors for generations to come. It’s about connecting the world to the incredible potential Africa holds,” Awosika said.
Empowering SMEs for Global Competitiveness
Access Bank’s sponsorship of the event further demonstrated its unwavering commitment to empowering SMEs across the continent. This was reinforced by keynote remarks from Kafui Bimpe, Head, SME – African Subsidiaries, Access Bank, who reiterated the Bank’s strategic vision.
“At Access Bank, our vision and drive are clear – to be Africa’s Gateway to the World. This vision guides our commitment to promoting intra-African trade, enhancing cross-border payments, and empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to grow from local champions into global competitors,” she stated.
Throughout the event, Access Bank showcased a suite of innovative, SME-focused solutions aimed at equipping businesses with the tools, resources, and expertise required for sustainable growth. These solutions span improved access to finance, capacity-building programmes, mentorship initiatives, and strategic partnerships, reinforcing the Bank’s role as a catalyst for SME resilience and expansion across Africa.
Africa’s Shift from Potential to Value Creation
The message of Africa’s rising global relevance was further echoed in a keynote address delivered by His Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Republic of Togo.
“Africa’s era of potential is over. The continent is now creating, innovating, and claiming its rightful place in global trade,” the President declared.
Driving Cross-Border Commerce and Economic Integration
Access Bank’s sponsorship of Africa Marketplace Dubai 2025 aligns with its broader objective of deepening economic integration across Africa. The event provided African businesses with direct access to international investors and global markets, opening new avenues for collaboration, expansion, and sustainable growth. By facilitating cross-border trade and strengthening B2B connections, Access Bank continues to elevate African entrepreneurs onto the global stage.
Sustaining Momentum Beyond Dubai
Access Bank’s participation in the Africa Marketplace event represents one of several strategic initiatives aimed at positioning African SMEs for success in the global economy. As one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, the Bank remains committed to expanding market access, supporting enterprise growth, and strengthening Africa’s role within the global trade ecosystem.
In furtherance of this commitment, Access Bank will host the second edition of the Access Trade Conference (ATC) in Cape Town in 2026. Building on the momentum generated in Dubai, ATC 2026 will deepen discussions around trade facilitation, innovation, and cross-border collaboration, while continuing to empower SMEs and reinforce Access Bank’s position as Africa’s Gateway to the World.
ABOUT ACCESS BANK
Access Bank Plc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc, is a leading full-service commercial bank operating a network of over 700 branches and service outlets across three continents, 24 countries, and serving more than 60 million customers. The Bank employs over 28,000 people across Africa, Asia, and Europe, with representative offices in China, Lebanon, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Bank combines a strong retail and digital banking franchise with deep corporate and investment banking expertise, robust risk management, and strong capital management capabilities. Its operations are structured across Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Retail Banking.
Over the past 23 years, Access Bank has recorded one of Africa’s most remarkable banking growth trajectories, emerging as one of the continent’s largest retail banks. Central to its strategy is a commitment to sustainable business practices, delivering growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible, and socially impactful—helping customers access opportunities and achieve their aspirations.
