SWIFT (SWIFT.com) announces the first names in its speaker line-up of industry leaders set to participate in its first ever Business Forum West Africa on 8 November 2016. The event will bring together more than 200 high-level financial representatives from across West Africa for a day of keynote speeches and interactive panel sessions. It will feature several senior speakers and strategic thinkers from both Nigeria and Ghana.

Adelabu Adebayo, Deputy Governor, Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Millison Narh, the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, will take part in the panel on Policy in Action: Challenges Facing West Africa, to discuss the impact of the economic downturn, increased expectations around compliance and developments in technology on policy formation in West Africa. The session will focus on FX and liquidity management, financial crime compliance and financial inclusion.

“SWIFT is a key player in the Nigerian financial community and a trusted partner,” said Adelabu Adebayo. “I am delighted that the first ever Business Forum West Africa will take place in Nigeria, one of the leading economies in Africa.”

    West Africa is a dynamic and varied region that contains some of the largest and highest growth economies in Africa

“SWIFT plays an instrumental role in Africa’s financial markets,” said Millison Narh. “I am delighted to take part in this exclusive event, which is a great opportunity for the Ghanaian financial community to learn, share, network and find common solutions to the challenges facing the region.”

Akpan Ekpo, Director General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management will provide delegates with an economic overview of the region. Epko has published over 200 articles in respected national and international journals and is a consultant to many international organizations such as the World Bank, African Economic Research Consortium and the European Commission.

The growing roster of experts that will address the Business Forum West Africa includes:

•    Dipo Fatokun, Director of Banking and Payments Systems, Central Bank of Nigeria
•    Joseph Akunyumu Tetteh, Director of Banking, Bank of Ghana
•    Abdoulaye Barry, Director of Financial Integration, West African Monetary Institute (WAMI)
•    Kyari Bukar, CEO, Central Securities and Clearing Systems
•    Segun Sani, CEO, Lakewood Investments and Trust
•    Tayo Asupoto, General Manager of Settlements at GT Bank
•    Ike Williams, CIO at Heritage Bank
•    Sam Okenye, Chief Information Security Officer    at the United Bank for Africa
•    Tunji Alabi, Chief Information Officer, Fidelity Bank Ghana

Sido Bestani, Head of the Middle East, Turkey & Africa, SWIFT, says: “West Africa is a dynamic and varied region that contains some of the largest and highest growth economies in Africa. The Business Forum West Africa provides a unique platform for leading experts from across the continent to discuss the most significant issues facing the region”.