First African professionals earn CITP trade certification

The first two professionals to earn the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation through Africa Trade Academy’s (ATA) FITTskills program have marked a significant achievement in Africa’s trade development. Angela Abordo, a trade finance officer at Agricultural Development Bank Plc, and Abena Anyen, a senior analyst at Oakwood Green Advisory, completed the credential as the program’s inaugural graduates. Their success reflects over a decade of combined experience in trade finance and advisory roles, where both have transitioned from transactional work to strategic trade support.

How Trade Finance Boosted a Cocoa Exporter

Abordo’s career highlights how trade finance can drive business expansion. She structured financing for a cocoa producer struggling with cash flow, enabling the company to increase European shipments—a deal still recognized as a turning point in the producer’s growth. The CITP program deepened her understanding of how trade systems function as a whole, particularly in resolving complex issues like letter-of-credit discrepancies for agricultural exports. The Global Value Chain module addressed gaps in her knowledge of supply chain operations, a critical area for her advisory work.

Abena’s journey parallels Abordo’s, moving from processing payments during her national service to advising small businesses on formalizing trade operations. She led a pilot for a digital trade platform, discovering that adoption depends as much on trust and education as on technology. The FITTskills program connected her practical experience with broader trade lifecycle strategies, especially through the International Market Entry Strategies course, which stressed intercultural competence in cross-border deals. “Many businesses have the potential to trade across borders but require support to transition from informal trading arrangements into structured, compliant and finance-ready operations,” she said.

ATA Partners with FITT to Scale Training

Both graduates represent the first professionals to earn the CITP through ATA’s partnership with the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). Since 2025, ATA has supported 28 individuals in completing the FITT Diploma in International Trade, which serves as the foundation for the CITP under Pathway 1. The partnership aims to make internationally recognized trade training accessible to professionals shaping Africa’s trade ecosystem. Caroline Tompkins, FITT’s President & CEO, emphasized that combining practical experience with rigorous training allows professionals to identify risks earlier and guide businesses toward better decisions. “That capability travels with them throughout their careers, and its value grows as they apply it with clients, colleagues, and businesses in their communities,” she said.

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Dode Seidu, ATA’s founder, called the milestone proof of the partnership’s potential. The program’s focus on real-world application, whether resolving trade disputes or preparing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for new markets, sets it apart from theoretical training. Graduates now view the CITP as a stepping stone: Abordo sees it opening doors to leadership roles, while Abena aims to use it to expand access to financing and markets for African businesses.

Inside the CITP Curriculum Modules

The program’s structure ensures learners bridge theory and practice through modules covering documentary compliance, trade finance, logistics, and risk management. Each module integrates real-world case studies, such as resolving letters-of-credit disputes or structuring export financing. For example, the Trade Compliance and Risk Management module examines how regulatory frameworks influence business decisions, a topic Abordo identified as essential when advising agricultural exporters handling European market entry requirements.

The collaboration addresses a major barrier to professional development in Africa: limited access to internationally recognized credentials. Before this partnership, many trade professionals relied on regional certifications or informal training, which often lacked standardization. The CITP designation, administered by FITT, provides a globally respected benchmark for competence, particularly valuable for professionals like Abena, who advise businesses on compliance with domestic and international trade standards.