2025 UN General Assembly: UBA hosts global leaders, launches whitepaper on unlocking Africa’s potential.

UBA Group has mapped out series of engaging activities to spotlight Africa’s opportunities and foster high-level dialogue with global leaders towards boosting the continent’s potential. This year’s gathering at the UNGA, will be held between September 15 to 25.

Officials said a key part of the gathering will be the UBA’s unveiling of a ground-breaking whitepaper that presents actionable strategies for unlocking Africa’s vast economic potential. The initiative is part of the bank’s mission to drive sustainable growth across the continent.

The whitepaper, a first-of-its-kind initiative by a leading African financial institution at UNGA, titled: “Banking on Africa’s Future: Unlocking Capital and Partnerships for Sustainable Growth”, will highlight opportunities in trade, infrastructure, digital innovation, climate finance, and inclusive growth.

By providing a roadmap for collaboration between Africa and the global community, UBA officials said the bank aims to position the continent not just as a beneficiary of investment, but as a critical driver of future global prosperity.

Apart from the Whitepaper launch, other activities of the group will include the Business Council for International Understanding, BCIU, Roundtable to be hosted by UBA America, as well as the annual UBA Reception.

The reception will convene world leaders, policymakers, and influential business executives who will be involved in critical dialogues on investment and development across the continent.

UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, emphasised the strategic importance of the dialogues. He explained that over the past few years, UBA has become an active leader in conversations and activities that will drive tangible investments to the continent.

"These conversations are fundamentally different from previous discussions because they will be followed by feasible and actionable decisions. UBA will actively work to implement these outcomes for the benefit of the continent, as committed partners in Africa's development and sustainability,” Elumelu noted.

He added that: “The United Nations General Assembly is the largest and most official gathering of world leaders, and we cannot let such an opportunity pass without major African players like UBA taking centre stage to bring these leaders together and showcase Africa's potential”.

Commenting on the upcoming event, especially the whitepaper's significance, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, emphasised the need for more private organisations and players to demonstrate their commitment to the continent's development through concrete action and proven capabilities.

UBA, it should be noted, is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. 

Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3569 of Friday September 19, 2025