Providus Bank has announced the launch of its Training to Transaction (T2T) programme, a flagship initiative aimed at moving African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from export readiness into active participation in international trade.
A statement by the lender said the programme, developed in partnership with Borderless Trade and Investment, Duchess NL, and the Global African Business Association, aligns with the ECOWAS Parliament at 25 programme.
“It is positioned as a strategic intervention to bridge a longstanding gap in Africa’s trade ecosystem, the disconnect between training and actual execution of trade transactions.
“Through a structured combination of practical capacity building, regulatory compliance alignment, and direct access to international markets, the T2T Programme is designed to help SMEs transition from preparation to measurable participation in global trade.” it said.
Speaking at the launch, Biodun Ariyo, Head of Global Trade and Structured Finance at Providus Bank, highlighted the evolving role of financial institutions in driving regional trade growth.
He noted that banks are increasingly collaborating with regional bodies to expand trade financing and facilitate cross-border transactions.
Also speaking, Ernest Elue, Head of Strategy and Innovation at the bank, said: “At Providus Bank, we believe that sustainable economic growth is driven not just by preparing businesses, but by enabling them to perform. The T2T Programme reflects our commitment to transforming potential into productivity, by equipping African SMEs with the tools, standards, and access required to compete and transact globally.
“The programme offers participating businesses hands-on export readiness training, transaction execution support, guidance on international regulatory requirements, and structured pathways into markets across Africa, the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
“It targets high-growth sectors with strong export potential, including agro-processing, cosmetics, beverages, garments and textiles, as well as leather and tanning.
“The initiative underscores Providus Bank’s broader strategy to drive trade-led economic growth by supporting indigenous businesses to scale beyond local markets and integrate into global value chains, while strengthening its role in enterprise development and cross-border trade facilitation,” he said.
