The Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Oliver Alawuba, has urged the adoption of a new financing model to position African financial institutions as central drivers of the continent’s competitiveness and economic transformation. Speaking at the UAE–Chad Trade and Investment Forum, themed “Financing African Competitiveness – Building Bridges, Powering Progress,” Alawuba emphasized that African banks must evolve beyond intermediaries to become architects of finance, structuring and mobilizing capital toward critical infrastructure.
Alawuba outlined a tripartite partnership framework connecting African banks, global investors such as the United Arab Emirates, and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) including the World Bank and African Development Bank. He stressed that aligning these pillars could unlock large-scale sustainable capital, enabling Africa to fund transformative infrastructure projects efficiently.
“Strategic African anchor investments can attract international capital at ratios of 10-to-1 or even 20-to-1,” Alawuba said, referencing UBA’s recent whitepaper, Banking on Africa’s Future, launched at the World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings. He cited Chad’s ambitious Tchad Connexion 2030 plan, valued at $30 billion, as a prime example of how structured partnerships and credible investment frameworks can drive continental growth.
Alawuba highlighted UBA’s track record in financing major projects across Africa, including over $400 million for Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, $700 million for Nigeria’s power sector, and $315 million for Ghana’s road infrastructure. He stressed that UBA combines large-scale funding with grassroots financial inclusion, ensuring that local enterprises and underserved regions benefit from capital injection.
Closing his remarks, Alawuba commended Chad’s government for visionary leadership and reiterated UBA’s commitment to supporting Africa’s growth. “Financing African competitiveness is not an act of charity. It is the smartest investment we can make in a future of shared prosperity,” he said, underlining the bank’s role as both a national infrastructure architect and a champion of inclusive growth.
source: Leadership