United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is committed to driving Africa’s economic growth through entrepreneurship innovation encouraging trade and nurturing partnerships with the rest of the world, has reinforced its pledge to this goal at the prestigious Africa Forward Summit 2026 that was held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Summit “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth” was attended by Presidents policymakers business people, investors, and entrepreneurs from all regions of Africa and Europe to look into sustainable strategies for economic growth, industrialisation, and enhanced cross-border cooperation.
In his speech at the Summit, Emmanuel Macron argued for Africa and France to define a new partnership where innovation, investment and shared development are the fundaments.
Africa and France are equal partners sharing common goals. We must create strategic autonomy through innovation, investment, and partnership.” said Macron
Also among the speakers during the Summit was Tony O. Elumelu, the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa Group underlined the role of entrepreneurship and private sector based growth for unleashing the economic potential of Africa.
“Africa’s future is not built on aid, the future of this continent will be built on entrepreneurship, investment and brave partnerships, ” said Elumelu
He also emphasized that the speed and scale of the continent’s development ultimately rests on collaboration among governments, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector.
In his opinion, a sustainable economic growth of the whole continent will rely on networks of partnerships that effectively open up investment, provide support for entrepreneurs, upgrade infrastructures and increase opportunities for trade. The Summit also offered UBA an opportunity to assert itself as Africa’s Global Bank and a financial institution of choice that is driving trade, investment and economic integration in Africa. Last year, with presence in 20 African countries and the global markets of U.K. France U. S.A, and the U. A. E, UBA has remained committed to linking Business interests of Africa to the global markets and immigrant investors interests to Africa’s emerging Markets.
African Integration:Leveraging its strong banking proposition, trade finance offer, cros- border payment infrastructure and digital banking platforms, UBA is committed to enabling businesses, SME and entrepreneurs to scale across borders and be active participants of the AfCFTA.
The Bank also emphasized the greater need for collaboration and joint work between African and international institutions for accelerate industrialisation, infrastructure development and community engagement, digital transformation and empowerment of young people in Africa.
To this end as discussion about the future of Africa’s economy unfolds, UBA has dedicated itself to fostering the upcoming generation of African entrepreneurs, facilitating intra-African trade, and creating financial ecosystems for sustained development and innovation.
