The Africa Trade Academy has marked a milestone with the graduation of the pioneer class of its FITT Diploma in International Trade, as 25 senior executives drawn from across Africa completed the programme and pledged to drive cross-border commerce on the continent.
The ceremony opened with a formal academic procession led by chair Naa Alhaji Seidu Daari, followed by a cultural performance from a traditional troupe representing Northern Ghana, setting a celebratory tone for the historic occasion.
Dean of the academy, Dode Seidu, described the graduation as proof of a shared commitment to excellence and Africa’s economic advancement, stressing that the institution’s partnership with Forum for International Trade Training was designed to nurture visionary leaders capable of transforming the continent’s trade environment.
Delivering the keynote address, Ziad Hamoui, who heads Borderless Alliance, charged the graduates to see themselves as catalysts for regional progress. He emphasised that trade education is central to integration and said the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area would depend on professionals willing to dismantle bottlenecks and translate policy frameworks into measurable economic outcomes.
Graduates representing Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo shared testimonials of rigorous training that they said sharpened their expertise and strengthened their confidence to navigate global markets.
Presentation of certificates by academy officials and members of its advisory board symbolised what organisers described as the handover of responsibility to a new generation of trade professionals expected to shape Africa’s commercial future.
With the pioneer class now inducted, the academy announced that the next intake of the diploma programme will commence on February 23, 2026, as it continues efforts to build a pipeline of skilled trade leaders across the continent.
