Access Bank (Sierra Leone) Limited has celebrated the achievement of its client, SAAD Group Limited, which won the SME in Trade Award at the Africa Trade Conference (ATC) 2026.
The conference, held on 11 March 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in South Africa, recognized SAAD Group Limited for its outstanding contribution to expanding SME-driven trade and enterprise development across Africa. The award highlights the company’s resilience, market expansion, and value-adding operations.
Speaking on the achievement, Managing Director of Access Bank (SL) Limited, Mr. Ganiyu Sanni, said the recognition demonstrates the growing strength of Sierra Leonean businesses on the continental stage. “SAAD Group Limited’s recognition at ATC 2026 demonstrates that Sierra Leonean SMEs are not only capable of thriving but also of leading across the continent. At Access Bank, we remain committed to opening new pathways for SMEs by providing financing, advisory support, and regional connectivity to help them scale, access new markets, and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s trade growth,” he stated.
The second edition of the high-level conference brought together leaders from government, finance, logistics, technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and policy sectors to develop practical, outcome-oriented solutions for scaling intra-African and global trade. This year’s theme, “Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa’s Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact,” emphasized execution and measurable results.
Access Bank (SL) Limited continues to strengthen support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through trade finance and working capital solutions tailored to supply chains and export cycles, advisory services and capacity-building programs to improve financial management and export readiness and cross-border payment solutions and digital platforms that enhance speed, compliance, and scalability. Reacting to the award, Managing Director of SAAD Group Limited, Mr. Saad Nemar Saad, described the recognition as a major milestone.
“Receiving the SME in Trade Award at ATC 2026 is a tremendous honour for SAAD Group Limited. This milestone inspires us to continue driving innovation, expanding our market reach, and contributing to job creation and economic development in Sierra Leone. We are grateful to Access Bank for its continued support and commitment to empowering SME growth across Africa,” he said.
Access Bank (SL) Limited reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s participation in regional and global trade by empowering SMEs, expanding access to finance, and enhancing cross-border connectivity to drive sustainable economic growth.
Access Bank (Sierra Leone) Limited, a subsidiary of Access Bank Plc, is a full-service commercial bank operating through a network of nine branches across major commercial districts in the country. Established in November 2007, the bank has grown to become one of Sierra Leone’s leading financial institutions by total assets.
Its parent company, Access Bank Plc, operates over 700 branches and service outlets across three continents, in 25 countries, serving more than 63 million customers. The institution employs over 28,000 people across Africa, the United Kingdom, and Europe, with representative offices in China, Lebanon, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
Listed on the Nigerian Exchange since 1998 through its parent company, Access Holdings Plc, the bank has evolved into one of Africa’s largest retail financial institutions, driven by strong corporate banking expertise, digital innovation, and a commitment to sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
