To Drive Investment, Wealth Creation Across Africa
Monrovia, Liberia – Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has unveiled a comprehensive diaspora banking and investment platform aimed at connecting Africans living abroad with structured wealth-building opportunities across the continent.
With the theme “Beyond Banking: Powering the Global African Lifestyle,” the initiative was unveiled at the bank’s global headquarters in Lagos. It represents a strategic departure from traditional remittance services to a more comprehensive financial ecosystem intended to promote long-term investment, protection, and prosperity.
In partnership with key ecosystem partners, including United Capital, Africa Prudential, UBA Pensions, Afriland Properties, Heirs Insurance Group, and Avon Healthcare Limited, the platform has been created to provide diaspora customers with a single point of access to banking, asset management, insurance, pensions, real estate investment, and healthcare solutions.
Anant Rao, Head of Diaspora Banking at UBA, spoke during the unveiling and called the action a revolution in Africa’s interaction with its international residents. “For decades, Africa’s relationship with its diaspora has largely centered on remittances. Today, we are going beyond money transfers. This platform creates a trusted financial ecosystem where Africans worldwide can bank, invest, protect their families, and build long-term wealth seamlessly,” Rao said.
He noted that diaspora remittances to Africa exceed US$100 billion annually, describing the flows as one of the continent’s most resilient sources of capital. “Diaspora capital is not merely a financial inflow; it is a strategic growth partner for Africa. Our role is to convert that capital into structured investments that promote shared prosperity across the continent,” he added.
The platform provides access to payments, securities services, professionally managed investment products, insurance coverage, pension savings, and structured property ownership in order to improve the transparency and efficiency of managing cross-border financial commitments for diaspora clients.
In order to create a smooth diaspora experience, cooperation is crucial, according to Alero Ladipo, Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA. “The modern African is global, mobile, ambitious, and deeply connected to home. Whether in Africa, Europe, the Americas, or the Middle East, there must be a secure and structured financial link back home. This platform provides that connection with confidence and transparency,” she said.
Ecosystem partners emphasized the increasing demand from the diaspora for long-term financial planning, safe real estate routes, insurance protection, and regulated investment vehicles. They reaffirmed their mutual dedication to providing Africans living overseas with reliable, expertly managed financial solutions.
Rao also reinforced the Africapitalism idea, which is supported by Tony O. Elumelu, the founder and chairman of UBA, and encourages long-term private sector investments that have a positive social impact in addition to economic benefits throughout Africa.
According to UBA, mobilizing diaspora capital through reliable financial institutions would be crucial in determining Africa’s future development as the continent establishes itself as one of the economic frontiers with the quickest rate of growth in the world.
“Africa will increasingly be financed by Africans, including Africans abroad,” Rao said. “Our responsibility is to build the financial infrastructure that makes this possible.”
Reported by: Prince Saah
