Afreximbank Leadership: Afreximbank has appointed Peter Adeshola Olowononi as Director of Regional Operations for Southern Africa, effective May 1, taking over from Humphrey Nwugo and overseeing 13 countries from its Zimbabwe office. SME Credit Push: NMB Bank and Mastercard launched the NMB SME World Business Credit Card in Tanzania, offering up to Sh50m credit with up to 53 interest-free days and added travel medical cover. Trade & Investment Link: Zenith Bank backed Nigeria’s 6th Canada-Africa Business Conference, positioning Lagos as a gateway for Canadian firms across finance, mining, tech and clean energy. Retail Banking Shake-up Watch: Standard Chartered is reportedly weighing options for its Ghana retail operations, including a possible sale or restructuring—raising questions for competition and customer access. Governance & Accountability: South Africa’s National Youth Development Agency faces a parliamentary grilling over a near R70m deficit and alleged irregular spending, highlighting financial mismanagement risks. Policy Meets Reality: South African manufacturers say localisation rules are undermined by procurement gaps and uneven enforcement, calling for tighter implementation. Digital Finance Ecosystem: NMB and UNCDF signed a cooperation deal to support tech-driven start-ups in Tanzania with regulatory support, market access, finance and mentorship. Market Volatility: El Niño is forming, with analysts warning food and commodity shocks could add a new layer of inflation risk for markets.