About
The session aims to engage buyers and key stakeholders across the continent, while highlighting practical pathways to facilitate intra-African trade.
An Afreximbank knowledge-sharing session designed to support buyers and businesses in navigating post-IATF2025 opportunities and challenges while advancing deals and partnerships through strategic insights and trade support. Discover how the African Buyers Programme, Afreximbank solutions, and digital platforms are helping businesses connect, grow, and unlock sustainable intra-African trade opportunities.
Date and time: Thursday, 14 May at 12:00 PM (Cairo time).
Speakers:
Dr Gainmore Zanamwe
Director – Trade Facilitation & Investment Promotion at Afreximbank
Gainmore Zanamwe is the Director of Trade Facilitation & Investment Promotion at Afreximbank, where he leads initiatives advancing intra-African trade, investment, and industrialisation under the African Continental Free Trade Area. With over 20 years of experience, he has played a key role in delivering major continental programmes, including the Intra-African Trade Fair, PAPSS, the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, and other trade facilitation and industrialisation initiatives across Africa. Before joining Afreximbank, he served as Regional Trade Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat and held academic and research positions. Dr. Zanamwe holds an LLD in regional economic integration and industrial development from University of South Africa and continues to contribute to Africa’s trade and industrialisation agenda through various continental advisory roles.
Ms. Cynthia Chukwukere
Assistant Manager, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion - Afreximbank
Cynthia Chukwukere is an Assistant Manager for IATF and Investment Promotion at Afreximbank, with over a decade of experience in trade facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and investment promotion across Africa. In her current role, she supports the planning and execution of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), investment promotion programmes, trade forums, and strategic initiatives aimed at advancing intra-African trade and investment collaboration. Through her work in investment promotion, she has supported the facilitation of investment forums that have generated investment deals valued at over USD 25 billion. Prior to this, she served in the Office of the Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, where she supported strategic planning, stakeholder coordination, and the execution of key trade and investment initiatives.
Mr Ebuka Okaja
Assistant Manager – Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion (African buyers Programme)
Ebuka is a trade facilitation professional with several years of experience working across both the public and private sectors, where he has been involved in developing and managing trade platforms within complex and emerging markets. His sector experience spans financial services, engineering, and hospitality, giving him a well-rounded perspective on market dynamics and business needs. At Afreximbank, he leads the African Buyers Programme (ABP), focusing on connecting buyers to African markets, enhancing market access, and supporting deal facilitation across the continent and the Caribbean. He has played a key role in delivering the IATF Hosted Buyers Programme and advancing the ABP digital ecosystem, contributing to measurable trade outcomes and expanded buyer participation. Ebuka brings strong execution capability, practical insight, and a passion for enabling trade as a driver of Africa’s economic growth.
Mr. Egheosa Onaiwu
Consultant – Research, Trade Intelligence Solutions (Consultancy Practice)
Egheosa is a management consultant with several years of experience, including roles at KPMG and Dalberg Advisors. He specializes in strategy, operational excellence, and organizational transformation, delivering high-impact projects across Africa. His sector experience spans consumer markets, financial services, agribusiness, and healthcare, working with both public and private stakeholders. Egheosa brings deep regional insight and a strong track record of driving growth and transformation in complex markets.
Mr. Jerry Osagie
Manager, SME Finance & Development
Jerry Osagie is Manager, SME Finance & Development at Afreximbank and a leading voice in SME finance across Africa and the Caribbean. He has over two decades experience mobilizing capital and designing scalable financing programmes for small businesses. At Afreximbank, he plays a key role in shaping the Bank’s SME financing proposition, contributing to the mobilization more than US$700 million deal pipeline, and securing over US$490 million in financing approvals for enterprises across the continent. Jerry is a published author, and global speaker on SME finance. He holds an MBA from the University of Lagos, is a Stanford LEAD alumnus, and has executive certifications in Climate Finance, Digital Financial Services, and Venture Capital.
Ms. Janice Costa
Assistant Manager, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion
Janice is a strategic partnerships and sponsorship professional with over 20 years of experience across Africa and the Middle East. She specialises in sponsorship strategy, trade platforms, stakeholder engagement, and commercial growth within emerging markets. She has played a key role in the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), one of Africa’s leading trade and investment platforms, which has facilitated over USD 130 billion in trade and investment deals across its last three editions. Janice is particularly passionate about how sponsorship and partnerships can drive market access, influence, and economic growth across Africa’s evolving business landscape.
