On September 18, 2025, Lagos Continental Hotel welcomed Nigeria’s non-oil sector leaders as Polaris Bank hosted its Global Trade Forum, aiming to tackle trade challenges, spark innovation, and chart new paths for business growth.

Under the theme “Trade Export: Partnering for Growth,” exporters, policymakers, and bankers engaged in discussions on trade finance, export readiness, compliance, and the growing role of digital platforms in cross-border transactions.
Moreover, the forum offered a rare opportunity for hands-on engagement, allowing participants to transform ideas into actionable strategies.
Leadership In Action
Polaris Bank’s CEO, Kayode Lawal, set the tone with a call to action.
Furthermore, he described trade as a driving force for sustainable economic growth and positioned the bank as a partner that equips Nigerian businesses to compete globally.
“We are not only a financial institution,” he said, “we are a catalyst for progress and long-term value creation.”
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Digital Solutions In Practice
Additionally, assistant comptroller Aondona Fanyama and his team from the Nigerian Customs Service demonstrated the Nigeria Trade Portal B’odogwu.
They showed how digital tools streamline processes and improve transparency, and they pledged swift resolution for participants who had faced challenges, highlighting the forum’s focus on tangible results.
With full executive representation and active participation from business leaders across sectors, the event reinforced Polaris Bank’s role as a forward-looking partner.
Ultimately, the day conveyed a clear message: collaboration, innovation, and trusted partnerships enable Nigerian businesses to thrive in today’s competitive global marketplace.

