Reaffirms Dividend Commitment, Resilience
Monrovia, Liberia – United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, has reaffirmed its dedication to providing long-term, sustainable value to its stakeholders and shareholders as it continues to benefit from its significant investments in powerful digital platforms and broadened its reach in recent years.
Oliver Alawuba, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, made this commitment, stating that investors in the bank will continue to reap the financial rewards and dividends in the current fiscal year and beyond due to its diversified business model and strategic expansion into important African and international markets.
Speaking at the 2025 Half Year Investors’ Conference Call at the Group’s Head Office in Lagos on Tuesday after the results for the half-year ended June 30, 2025, were released, Alawuba explained that the company’s diversification model is still a key growth strategy, as evidenced by the significant contribution of its subsidiaries to the business in the first half.
“UBA is present in 20 countries in Africa and 19 outside of Nigeria, and these countries are doing fairly well,” he remarked. In many of those nations, we are a major systemic bank. As the year progresses, we anticipate that our African business will now account for 53% of our profit before taxes.”
He went on to say, “A lot is coming from Africa, and yes, we are in a position to pursue value. As a proactive bank, we have made a concerted effort to grow our business, products, and services, as well as to attract talent that will help us expand our value. We see a lot of opportunities in Africa, and I think we are investing there to take advantage of these opportunities.”
Responding to an investor’s questions on dividend payment for the full-year, Alawuba said, “on dividend outlook for the rest of the year: we still believe that, based on the numbers we are looking at, we will be able to pay a competitive dividend for the rest of the year.”
UBA’s gross earnings at the end of the first two quarters of 2024 increased by 17.28%, from N1.371 trillion in June 2024 to N1.608 trillion over the reviewed period. While total assets climbed 9.71% to N33.3 trillion from N30.3 trillion in December 2024, interest income also increased 32.89% from N1.004 trillion in June of last year to N1.334 trillion. In the same time frame, total deposits increased by 11.96%, closing at N27.6 trillion, up from N24.7 trillion at the end of 2024.
Alawuba noted during the call that the bank’s continuous investments in innovation and technology are essential for efficiency and competitiveness. He also stated that UBA hopes to improve customer satisfaction, increase revenue streams, and solidify its position as the go-to financial partner for more than 45 million clients worldwide by utilizing digital channels and solutions.
Ugo Nwaghodoh, UBA’s Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management, echoed the GMD’s remarks by stating that the bank will keep utilizing innovation and technology to boost productivity, increase digital revenue streams, and provide better customer service.
Nwaghodoh stated that UBA’s growth strategy is firmly anchored on resilience, innovation, and value creation, reinforcing the bank’s mission of empowering customers, supporting communities, and promoting economic progress throughout Africa and beyond. “Our diversified African and interconnected operations remain a strong buffer against local shocks, reinforcing UBA’s position as Africa’s global bank,” he said.
United Bank for Africa employs 25,000 people worldwide and serves more than 45 million customers, making it one of the biggest employers in the financial industry on the African continent. Leading financial inclusion and deploying state-of-the-art technology, UBA offers retail, commercial, and institutional banking services in 20 African nations as well as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates.
Reported by: Prince Saah
