United Bank for Africa Group Managing Director Oliver Alawuba told delegates at the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium in New York that Africa must focus on turning its opportunities into investable, bankable projects backed by credible institutions and dependable revenues. The symposium took place during the United Nations General Assembly engagements, where Alawuba took part in a fireside chat titled “From Mandate to Impact.” (Punch) (Premium Times)
Alawuba said rigorous preparation, serious capital and accountable delivery are needed to unlock sustainable funding for the continent. He emphasised that projects must be commercially sustainable and supported by institutions capable of delivering on commitments, remarks reported by both outlets. (Punch) (Premium Times)
Using UBA’s own financing as examples, Alawuba cited a US$6.56 million telecommunications modernisation loan in Chad, initiated in 2021, which he said reached completion in 2025 and was fully repaid. He also described a US$45 million loan facility to Oak Asset SPV for road construction in Kenya, noting that UBA’s support extended beyond project lending to government collections and contractor facilities. These examples were given to illustrate how clear structure and accountability can move projects from financing to completion, according to the reports. (Punch) (Premium Times)
Alawuba highlighted UBA’s continental reach in project finance across markets including Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and Liberia. He also pointed to digital finance as a growth enabler, naming Leo, UBA’s digital banking platform, which he said serves more than six million users across 20 African countries and processes over 16 million transactions annually. Leo, he noted, supports English, French, Portuguese and Swahili. (Punch) (Premium Times)
While concluding his session, Alawuba urged stakeholders to prioritise completing viable investments already under way and to prepare and de-risk a selected pipeline of bankable projects in areas such as dependable power, digital connectivity and logistics, the Premium Times report added. (Premium Times)
The Premium Times piece also noted that United Bank for Africa operates in 20 African countries and in markets including the United Kingdom, the United States, France and the United Arab Emirates, and serves over 45 million customers globally. That description was included in the Premium Times report. (Premium Times)
“At UBA, Africa’s Global Bank, we bring the conviction that African enterprise belongs at the centre of Africa’s transformation, supported by strong institutions and productive global partnerships,” Alawuba said, according to the reports. (Punch) (Premium Times)
Featured image: Mojnsen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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