

Africa
South Africa: Access Bank drives intra-Africa trade at inaugural conference
Access Bank PLC, today, convened leading policymakers, business executives, and industry stakeholders in Cape Town for the maiden Africa Trade Conference, a platform dedicated to unlocking the continent’s vast trade potential. The conference serves as a strategic response to the shifting global trade landscape, emphasising Africa’s need to build resilient economies through deeper regional collaboration and enhanced financial and trade infrastructure.

Addressing participants, Roosevelt Ogbonna, managing director and CEO of Access Bank PLC, highlighted the need for Africa to take control of its economic destiny by fostering deeper collaboration, investing in financial infrastructure, and creating homegrown solutions that drive sustainable growth.
Ogbonna underscored the shifting dynamics of global trade and increasing need for Africa to look inward. The world, he noted, has become more fragmented, with rising nationalist tendencies and supply chain disruptions that have disproportionately impacted the continent. These challenges, he argued, present an opportunity for Africa to strengthen its trade networks, support local businesses, and build the resilience needed to compete on a global scale. However, for this vision to become a reality, several structural barriers must be addressed.
One of the critical issues Ogbonna identified is the challenges businesses face in securing capital. While many African enterprises have the ambition to scale, the excessive cost of financing often inhibits their ability to expand. He advocated a financial services sector that is designed to empower businesses, making capital more accessible and affordable.
“Many businesses on the continent struggle to find capital or access to capital and the right structure of capital, and when they do find it, the cost of capital is so significant that it makes it unbelievably expensive for them to be able to raise capital and still do business competitively. That has to change. We have to create a financial services sector that empowers businesses, one that makes it easier and seamless for businesses to be able to access capital, to able to invest in growth, invest in innovation, and of course, the muscle they need to expand beyond their local boundaries.
READ ALSO
- Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Resigns from PDP with 23 Assembly Members
- CAF Announces 2026 World Cup African Playoffs
- Davido Announces 5IVE Alive Tour in Five Cities in Nigeria
- Enugu: Read Full Text of Governor Peter Mbah APC defection speech
- Lagos Re-Arraigns Evans For Alleged Murder Of Two Policemen
“It is clear that we need to create a network of Africa financial giants who are willing to create homegrown solutions to support the continent in achieving the objectives that we have set for ourselves.”
Beyond financial constraints, limited access to market intelligence remains a major hurdle. Many African businesses lack the necessary insights to identify trade opportunities beyond their local markets. Leveraging technology to enhance information-sharing can bridge this gap, enabling businesses to make informed decisions and seize growth prospects across the continent.
Apart from capital, Ogbonna highlighted the critical role of access to information. Many businesses struggle to find the data and intelligence necessary to make informed decisions and identify opportunities beyond their national borders. He stressed that leveraging technology to bridge this gap will be instrumental in driving cross-border trade and creating a more connected Africa.
He also addressed the issue of trust between trading partners, noting that historic challenges, inconsistent regulations, and varying standards have contributed to a lack of confidence in intra-Africa trade. Overcoming this scepticism, he affirmed, requires deliberate efforts to harmonise standards, foster cooperation, and shift perceptions about the quality of African goods and services. He urged African businesses to take pride in what they produce, invest in local industries, and reject the notion that products made on the continent are inferior to those from elsewhere.
The chief executive also emphasised the urgent need to modernise Africa’s trade routes and infrastructure. Drawing on historical examples, he pointed out that Africa once had well-established trade corridors that connected it to the Middle East and Asia. Today, however, inefficient transport networks and regulatory bottlenecks make it easier for businesses in Angola to trade with Portugal than with South Africa or Nigeria. He called for a renewed commitment to building the infrastructure and regulatory frameworks necessary to facilitate seamless trade across the continent, ensuring that goods, services, and capital can move freely between African nations.
Closing his address, Ogbonna challenged attendees to take concrete action toward realising Africa’s economic potential. He urged governments, financial institutions, and businesses to leverage platforms like the Africa Trade Conference to drive meaningful change. The goal, he emphasised, should be to create an Africa where businesses thrive, financial inclusion is a reality, and homegrown solutions set global benchmarks.
“Ultimately, let’s collectively agree that we will create value working as governments, financial services sector and businesses, leveraging our collective power to make the Africa we truly are proud of a reality,” he said.
The Access Bank Africa Trade Conference represents a significant step toward fostering dialogue, building partnerships, and driving policy initiatives that support Africa’s economic transformation. As the continent continues to navigate global uncertainties, events like this serve as a reminder that Africa’s future lies in its ability to collaborate, innovate, and build a sustainable trade ecosystem that benefits all.
Streaming link: Africa Trade Conference – 25.
Africa
Protesters in South Africa urge government to cut ties with Israel over Gaza war

More than 3,000 people marched through Cape Town on Saturday, calling on South Africa’s government to sever diplomatic and trade relations with Israel over its war in Gaza, in one of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations in months.
The rally, organised by civil society and faith-based groups, brought together political parties as well as Muslim and Christian organisations. Protesters carried Palestinian flags and placards with slogans such as “Don’t just feel bad, do something,” before handing over a petition to parliament.
The petition demanded the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria, an end to South Africa’s coal exports to Israel, and the prosecution of South Africans who enlist in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
READ ALSO: Ex-Oyo Governor Ladoja Installed as 44th Olubadan of Ibadan
“The government has to take action on the kicking out of Israel’s ambassador and embassy from South Africa now,” said Usuf Chikte, coordinator of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. He also urged that Israel be excluded from international sporting bodies such as FIFA.
Pretoria has been a leading critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza. In December 2023, it filed a case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide, which Israel has denied.
The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s military response has since killed at least 65,926 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures the United Nations considers credible.
Saturday’s march reflected growing grassroots pressure on South Africa’s government to escalate its stance. “Boycott, divest and sanction Israel, the same way as the world did for us,” Chikte told the crowd, referring to the anti-apartheid movement.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
AFP
Africa
Senator Sadiq Umar Calls on Youths to Lead Africa’s Trade Revolution at 2025 JCI AMESA Summit

Abuja, Nigeria – Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, representing Kwara North Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committees on Trade & Investment and Rules & Business, has urged young Africans to take the lead in driving the continent’s trade and investment future under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Africa and Middle East Senate Association (AMESA) Summit hosted by Junior Chamber International (JCI) in Abuja, Senator Umar commended JCI’s global role in raising leaders and promoting active citizenship.
He emphasized Africa’s demographic advantage, stating:
“With 1.4 billion people and 60% under the age of 25, Africa holds the key to the future of global trade and innovation.”
Referencing World Bank statistics, Umar highlighted that AfCFTA could lift 30 million Africans out of poverty and increase incomes by $450 billion by 2035, provided countries commit to cross-border collaboration, trade missions, and youth-driven entrepreneurship.
On Nigeria’s role, he described the nation as a “gateway for investment and innovation”, citing its 220 million population, dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, and recent policy reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He further noted that Nigeria’s fintech sector has attracted over $2 billion in foreign investment within the last five years.
The Senator urged African governments and businesses to prioritize agriculture, renewable energy, digital trade, and infrastructure, stressing that trade must be viewed beyond goods and services.
“Trade is not just about goods and services; it is about the movement of ideas, opportunities, and hope,” he declared.
Senator Umar closed by reaffirming the Nigerian Legislature’s commitment to policies that unlock Africa’s untapped potential, challenging young Africans to lead with integrity, innovation, and service.
THE JCI AMESA SUMMIT – WAZOBIA 2025
The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Africa and Middle East Senate Association (AMESA) Summit 2025 officially opened in Abuja, bringing together leaders and changemakers from across the continent and beyond.
The four-day summit, themed “Rediscovering Africa’s Untapped Potential Through Regional Collaboration & Partnerships,” runs from September 18 to 21, 2025.
Organizers say AMESA 2025 promises to be a transformative event, serving as a platform for influential figures to drive progress, explore opportunities, and shape the future of Africa and the Middle East through united efforts and strategic cooperation.
Throughout the summit, participants will engage in dynamic discussions, exchange best practices, and build actionable frameworks aimed at fostering sustainable development, regional integration, and stronger partnerships.
By the end of the gathering, stakeholders are expected to outline a collaborative blueprint to unlock growth and innovation across Africa and the Middle East.
PHOTOS FROM THR OPENING CEREMONY
Africa
Equatorial Guinea Jails Top Official Baltasar Engonga Over Embezzlement and Explosive Sex Tape Scandal

A senior government official in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, popularly known as “Bello”, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of embezzlement in a scandal that shook the nation with both financial crimes and viral sex tapes.
The Bioko provincial court found Engonga guilty of diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars through fake travel claims for personal gain, according to Supreme Court press director Hilario Mitogo.
Engonga, a married former head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, first hit global headlines last November when explicit sex tapes leaked online. The videos, some allegedly filmed in his Finance Ministry office, featured him with wives of fellow senior officials.
The scandal triggered a storm of online ridicule, sparking parody songs, skits, and viral dance challenges, with even a cheeky reference appearing in Burna Boy’s hit track “Tatata.”
Alongside five other senior officials, Engonga was ordered to pay a $220,000 fine in addition to serving his prison sentence.
The case has fueled fresh debates about corruption and abuse of office within Equatorial Guinea’s ruling elite, in a country long criticized for lack of transparency despite its vast oil wealth.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
Africa
Helicopter Crash in Ghana Kills Eight, Including Two Ministers

A tragic helicopter crash in Ghana’s Ashanti Region has claimed the lives of eight people, including two prominent government officials. The Ghana Air Force helicopter went down in the Adansi Akrofuom district on Tuesday, August 6, 2025, during a flight from Accra to Obuasi.
Among the victims were Ghana’s Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Several other government officials and crew members also perished in the crash.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has expressed profound sorrow over the loss and has directed that flags be flown at half-mast nationwide for a week in honour of the deceased. The government has also launched an urgent investigation into the cause of the crash, with initial reports indicating bad weather may have played a role.
This incident marks one of the deadliest air disasters involving government officials in Ghana’s recent history, prompting an outpouring of condolences from across the country and beyond.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
Africa
Equatorial Guinea Corruption Trial: Baltasar Engonga Faces Over 18 Years Imprisonment

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea – The high-profile corruption trial of Baltasar Ebang Engonga, former director-general of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), began on June 30.
Engonga, known for his leaked sextapes, faces charges of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office.
The prosecution alleges Engonga orchestrated an elaborate scheme to siphon off public funds during his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR) from 2015 to 2020.
The national prosecutor has requested an exceptionally heavy sentence: 8 years for embezzlement, 4 years and 5 months for illicit enrichment, and 6 years and 1 day for abuse of office.
The charges also carry a proposed fine exceeding 910 million CFA francs (approximately $1.5 million) and a ban on holding public office.
Engonga’s defense team has condemned the charges as politically motivated and challenged the credibility of the evidence.
The trial is ongoing, with proceedings scheduled to continue this week. Six other former senior civil servants are also accused of misappropriating funds in a widespread network of financial malpractice.
A verdict is expected in the coming days.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
-
Entertainment1 week ago
Big Brother Naija Live Update: KOLA, SULTANA Evicted #BBNaija
-
Music3 weeks ago
Odumodublvck Drops “Industry Machine” Feauturing Wizkid Ahead of 23-Track Album
-
Entertainment1 week ago
Imisi Crowned Winner of Big Brother Naija Season 10
-
Biafra3 weeks ago
Judgement Day: Tension in Abuja as Court Rules on Nnamdi Kanu’s No-Case Submission Today
-
Entertainment3 weeks ago
Content Creator Mandy Kiss Announces Guinness World Record Sex Marathon Attempt
-
Entertainment3 weeks ago
BBNaija Update: Joanna, Kuture Sent Packing as Week 9 Evictions Shock Fans
-
Music News1 week ago
Odumodublvck Set to Drop ‘Industry Machine’ The Album Featuring Davido, Wizkid, Skepta & Stormzy
-
Music News3 weeks ago
Wizkid’s Made in Lagos becomes top-selling African album in U.S.
-
Music3 weeks ago
Sarz Drops Debut Album Featuring Wizkid, Asake, Skillibeng
-
Music3 weeks ago
Spyro Releases Debut Album The Men, The Boys & Your Guy