BONI Bank at WAES 2025: Championing Trade, Innovation, and Regional Growth
- Catherine Fleurant
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
At the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025, BONI Bank was more than a sponsor—we were a founding partner in launching what is fast becoming one of Africa’s most important economic platforms.
Held on June 20–21 at the Abuja International Conference Centre, WAES brought together Heads of State, private sector leaders, youth innovators, and policymakers from across ECOWAS under the theme:
“Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Region.”
From driving policy conversations to enabling cross-border collaboration, BONI’s participation underscored its commitment to shaping Africa’s future through trade, investment, and innovation.
A New Platform for Economic Leadership
WAES 2025 wasn’t just a conference—it was a declaration of intent. The summit was designed to move beyond rhetoric and ignite action on several fronts:
Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Strengthening public-private partnerships
Promoting youth inclusion, skills development, and start-up innovation
Driving cross-border investment through regional cooperation
BONI’s involvement helped create an environment where dialogue became strategy—and where strategy could begin its transformation into measurable economic outcomes.
Recognition from the Summit’s Leadership
A formal Letter of Appreciation received by our Shareholder Representative, Mr. Michael Prest, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria reinforced BONI’s pivotal role:
"Your strategic role cannot be over-emphasised… As a result of your involvement, the inaugural summit was not only historic but impactful." Hon. Simi Fajemirokun-Ajayi, Executive Secretary, WAES
The letter goes on to emphasize the long-term nature of the initiative—WAES is not a one-off event, but a foundation for continued transformation. BONI’s early leadership positions us as a trusted stakeholder in this journey toward economic sovereignty and stability in West Africa.
Visibility and Momentum
WAES 2025 generated strong engagement across media and digital platforms, with highlight content—particularly from Day 1—widely shared and positively received. From opening addresses to keynote panels, the summit's early moments captured the energy and ambition behind this new era of regional cooperation.
BONI’s presence on-site and online helped reinforce its positioning as a forward-thinking financial partner, committed to both the vision and execution of Africa’s economic transformation.
Why BONI’s Presence Matters
WAES created a unique space for BONI to:
Showcase its multi-currency account solutions and secure banking in USD, GBP, and EUR
Promote BONIPay, our seamless cross-border payment platform
Engage with family offices, HNWIs, corporates, and financial advisors expanding into West Africa
Build visibility as a key financial partner for African entrepreneurship and infrastructure development
Our role was not only financial—it was symbolic. BONI Bank stood as a bridge between global capital and regional opportunity, between established institutions and emerging leaders.
Moving from Talk to Transformation
The organizers of WAES were clear: the summit’s success will not be measured solely by attendance, but by the long-term partnerships, policy shifts, and investments it inspires. BONI shares that vision—and is already laying the groundwork to support cross-border initiatives across key sectors.
We look forward to supporting WAES in future editions and in broader regional efforts to unlock growth, innovation, and shared prosperity.
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