United Bank for Africa is set to deepen its influence on Africa’s financial future with the launch of a landmark whitepaper titled “Banking on Africa’s Future: Unlocking Capital and Partnerships for Sustainable Growth.” The document will be unveiled in October 2025 on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., positioning Africa’s economic priorities at the centre of a global financial stage.
The whitepaper presents a strategic framework for mobilising capital, strengthening partnerships, and accelerating sustainable growth across the continent. It examines core pillars including trade facilitation, infrastructure development, digital innovation, climate finance, and inclusive growth, while outlining how African economies can harness domestic capital and global investment to unlock the $3.4 trillion opportunity offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
For small and medium enterprises, the insights offered in this document are particularly significant. Access to finance, regional trade opportunities, and improved financial infrastructure remain major constraints for MSMEs. By advocating for stronger financial instruments and private sector-led partnerships, UBA’s whitepaper signals a potential shift toward more inclusive capital flows—supporting the entrepreneurs and small businesses that drive job creation across Africa.
UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to action-driven development, noting that UBA is moving discussions beyond rhetoric and into measurable investment. “We are championing initiatives that convert strategic dialogue into bankable projects and direct investments,” he said, adding that UBA remains committed to providing capital, platforms, and networks that unlock Africa’s true potential.
Group Managing Director and CEO, Oliver Alawuba, underscored the urgency of private sector leadership in financing Africa’s future. He described the whitepaper as both a call to action and a blueprint for execution, stressing UBA’s role in facilitating partnerships that can transform ambition into economic impact.
As global leaders, policymakers, and investors convene in Washington, the unveiling of this whitepaper is expected to shape new conversations around Africa’s financial architecture,particularly how capital can be mobilised to support businesses, scale innovation, and build resilient economies across the continent.
