“Africa Now In The Era Of Execution, No More In Potential Era” – UBA CEO Alawuba Declares At UAE-Chad Trade & Investment Forum
The Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa, Oliver Alawuba, has disclosed that Africa has departed the era of potential for the era of execution.
Mr Alawuba made the comments while delivering his keynote address at the UAE-Chad Trade & Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The event held on Monday, November 10, 2025.
“For too long, the narrative around Africa has been one of potential. But I stand before you today to declare that the era of potential is over. We are now in the era of execution. And what we are witnessing in Chad is a masterclass in how to make that shift,” the banker who spoke on the topic “Financing African Competitiveness – Building Bridges, Powering Progress,” said.
X-raying The $30 billion Chad Connection 2030 plan. which he described as not just a document but a declaration of intent, Mr Alawuba pointed out that the capital required to transform Africa exists within and outside the continent.
Speaking further, Mr Alawuba maintains that the challenge militating against Africa’s progress has never been “a lack of capital” but what he dubs “lack of bankable structures and credible partnerships,” including “huge domestic capital misalignment.”
Highlighting roles UBA – with presence in 20 African countries and financial centres in New York, London, Paris, and the UAE – the financial institution he leads is playing in structuring deals that de-risk investment and unlock capital at scale, Mr Alawuba said:
“In Tanzania, we committed over $400 million to the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, a testament to our capacity for large-scale energy infrastructure.
“In Nigeria, we have invested over $700 million in the power sector post-privatization and participated in the landmark $10 billion syndication for the Dangote Refinery.
“In Ghana, we financed $315 million in road infrastructure, understanding that connectivity is the lifeblood of trade.”
“So, when we look at Chad’s targets – 60% electrification, water for 11 million people, the doubling of agricultural production – we do not see insurmountable challenges. We see a portfolio of bankable projects,” Aluwaba, who refused to be hopeless about challenges facing the continent, explained.
On UBA’s direct investment in Chad, he said:
“Our commitment is two-fold: we are both architects of national infrastructure and champions of grassroots financial inclusion. Here in Chad, this is not a promise; it is a proven track record. We have already committed over $102 million in direct investments in the State of Chad’s securities and have been the lead financier on critical national projects – from a $49 million domestic gas project to bring clean energy to households, to a $6.7 million wind farm in Amdjarass and essential funding for road maintenance and telecom modernization. This demonstrates a deep, vested partnership with Chad’s development agenda.”
