UBA chief urges investors to turn Africa’s opportunities into bankable projects
United Bank for Africa chief executive Oliver Alawuba has called for stronger preparation, credible institutions and accountable delivery to convert Africa’s development needs into investable projects. He cited the bank’s financing of telecommunications, roads and digital services as examples of commercial support for infrastructure and cross-border growth.
United Bank for Africa chief executive Oliver Alawuba has urged governments, investors and financial institutions to focus on converting Africa’s development opportunities into commercially viable projects. Alawuba made the remarks in New York during the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium, held alongside United Nations General Assembly engagements. He spoke during a fireside discussion titled “From Mandate to Impact”.
He said projects needed careful preparation, reliable revenue streams, credible institutions and accountable delivery systems to attract sustainable capital. He also called for execution capacity to be built into investment plans rather than treated as a separate concern. Alawuba cited UBA’s financing activity across sectors including telecommunications, energy, roads and digital services.
In Chad, he said, the bank financed a $6.56 million telecommunications modernisation project launched in 2021, completed in 2025 and fully repaid. He also referred to a $45 million loan facility for road construction in Kenya. In that case, he said UBA’s involvement extended beyond project finance to government collections and facilities for contractors involved in delivery.
Digital finance was another focus. Alawuba said UBA’s Leo platform served more than six million users across 20 African countries and processed more than 16 million transactions annually. The platform supports English, French, Portuguese and Swahili, according to the supplied material.
He said UBA’s work in several African markets demonstrated the role of local financial institutions in understanding domestic conditions while using international connections to mobilise capital. He urged stakeholders to complete viable projects already under way and prepare new investments in power, digital connectivity and logistics.
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