The company also announced that Engr Effiong Okon will become Chief Executive Officer on August 1, 2026, succeeding Roger Brown, who has led the energy firm since August 2020.

The appointments were disclosed in a notice filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Tuesday and signed by the company secretary, Edith Onwuchekwa.

Elumelu’s elevation to Chairman comes months after his company, Heirs Energies, acquired a 20.07% stake in Seplat Energy in a $500 million deal.

The transaction made Heirs Energies the single largest shareholder in the dual-listed energy company and was one of the most significant indigenous investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry in recent years.

His appointment follows a series of board changes that began earlier this year. In January 2026, Seplat appointed Elumelu as a Non-Executive Director after the resignation of Olivier Cleret De Langavant, who represented Maurel & Prom.

The French company had previously held the 20.07 per cent stake before selling it to Heirs Holdings and Heirs Energies.

Tony Elumelu will succeed Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who is currently the chairman of Seplat board. The company said the transition marks “a new chapter of leadership” for the company as it continues to pursue growth opportunities across its business.

The company said Elumelu’s experience in corporate governance, institution building and value creation will support its ambition of building a resilient and globally competitive energy business.

Elumelu is the founder and chairman of Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment company with interests across energy, power, banking, insurance, technology, real estate, hospitality and healthcare.

He is also the founder of Africapitalism, an economic philosophy that promotes long-term private sector investment as a driver of economic development across Africa.

Beyond Heirs Holdings, he chairs Transcorp Group and serves as Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group.

Following the acquisition, Heirs Energies became Seplat’s largest shareholder with 20.07%. Other major shareholders include Petrolin Group with 13.77%, Sustainable Capital with 9.77%, Professional Support with 8.5% and Allan Gray Investment Management with 5.57%.

The change has strengthened indigenous participation in a sector where international companies have reduced their exposure to upstream assets.

Attention will also turn to the company’s incoming CEO, Effiong Okon, who will take over leadership in August.

Okon brings more than 35 years of industry experience and has held several senior positions within Seplat since joining the company in 2018. He first served as Operations Director before becoming New Energy Director and most recently Managing Director of ANOH Gas Processing Company.

Seplat credited him with playing a key role in delivering the ANOH gas project, which achieved first gas in January 2026. The project is regarded as one of Nigeria’s major gas developments and is part of initiatives to increase domestic gas supply.

The company said Okon’s operational experience and deep knowledge of the business position him to lead Seplat through its next phase of expansion, particularly as it continues to grow its gas business and explore new energy opportunities.

The leadership changes come at a time when Nigeria’s energy sector is undergoing significant transformation. Oil producers are adapting to the global shift towards cleaner energy sources, while local operators are taking on larger roles following the divestment of several international oil companies.

The Petroleum Industry Act has also changed the operating environment, increasing pressure on indigenous companies to expand production, improve efficiency and attract investment.

Last year’s acquisition by Heirs Energies was backed by African financial institutions, including Afreximbank and Africa Finance Corporation. The transaction was structured with an upfront payment of $248 million, while the balance was secured through an irrevocable letter of credit.

A further contingent payment of up to $10 million was tied to Seplat’s share price performance.

The deal followed a separate $750 million financing facility secured by Heirs Energies from Afreximbank to support its operations and expansion plans.

Redtech is backed by Heirs Holdings; MoMo PSB is MTN Nigeria’s fintech subsidiary.

With this development, MoMo PSB customers can now make payments directly from their MoMo wallets at participating UBA merchant locations using the “Pay with MoMo” feature on RedPay POS terminals; they can also visit any UBA branch to make withdrawals and deposits from and into their MoMo accounts.

For online shoppers, e-commerce merchants can now receive payments directly from MoMo PSB customers through Redtech’s payment gateway infrastructure.

The partnership brings together Redtech’s payment technology and enablement capabilities, UBA’s merchant-acquiring and distribution layer, and MoMo PSB’s mobile money wallet ecosystem and customer base.

Redtech holds licences as a Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP) and Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) from the Central Bank of Nigeria, authorising it to provide both POS and payment gateway services.

Together, the three organisations are addressing a critical gap in Nigeria’s payments market – connecting banking-led merchant acceptance with telco-led mobile money wallets.

For MoMo PSB customers, Pay with MoMo increases the number of places where their wallets can be used for everyday payments. In the case of merchants, it opens access to a wider pool of customers and provides an additional payment option at the point of sale.

Kayode Olubiyi, UBA’s head, Digital Banking, who spoke during the launch, noted that this partnership represents the solution to the gap identified in cash transactions and card access.

“What this partnership represents is an honest and effective answer to the gap we identified in cash transactions and card access. Our merchants are already serving millions of customers every day through the UBA network. By bringing Pay with MoMo into that network, we are giving those merchants a direct connection to MoMo PSB’s customer base – and giving MoMo PSB customers more places to use their wallets when they shop. That is a clear win for both sides.”

Emmanuel Ojo, Redtech’s chief executive officer, emphasised that the partnership aims to make payments work better together in a way that is practical for everyday commerce.

“This partnership is about making payments work more seamlessly for everyday commerce and most importantly, It aligns with Africapitalism, as championed by Tony Elumelu, the chairman of Heirs Holdings. By integrating our RedPay technology with MoMo PSB’s wallets through the UBA network, we will offer merchants and customers greater choice. Our goal is to build the payment infrastructure that ensures a merchant never has to turn away any customer in Nigeria or across Africa because of their preferred payment method. By connecting our technology with MoMo PSB’s wallets through the UBA network, we are giving merchants and customers more options”

Ag. CEO, MoMo PSB, Omolara Michael-Nwadu, who highlighted the barriers to payment in the country, emphasised the importance of partnerships, explaining how integrating MoMo wallets into UBA’s merchant network through Redtech’s infrastructure will unlock additional merchant touchpoints.

“This partnership marks a significant step toward true interoperability in Nigeria’s payments ecosystem. By integrating MoMo wallets into UBA’s merchant network through Redtech’s infrastructure, we are removing barriers between bank-led and mobile money systems while unlocking access to over 55,000 merchant touchpoints. Our focus is on driving usage at scale, enabling more transactions, deeper engagement, and greater value for merchants. At MoMo PSB, we are building a more connected financial ecosystem where payments aren’t tied to platforms but to a seamless customer experience. At MoMo PSB, our focus is on simplifying payments, expanding access to financial services and helping more Nigerians do more every day. Pay with MoMo gives our customers more places to use their wallets, while supporting broader financial inclusion by bringing useful financial services closer to where people live, work and do business.”

Alero Ladipo, UBA’s group head, Brands, Marketing and Corporate Communications, captured the broader significance of the moment at the signing ceremony.

“Every institution in this room is a giant in its own right. What makes today meaningful is the decision to come together anyway,” she said. Ladipo added, “Financial inclusion is not a slogan to us at UBA. It is a commitment that requires scale, technology, and the willingness to build ecosystems rather than silos. This partnership is that commitment made concrete.”

Pay with MoMo is being introduced through RedPay POS terminals already deployed within UBA’s merchant network. More than 55,000 RedPay POS terminals have been deployed across the network, with the platform having processed over ₦278.47 billion in transaction value and more than 12.23 million transactions to date.

Starting in Nigeria, Pay with MoMo is now live at participating UBA merchant locations, with plans to extend the rollout to selected African markets where both MoMo PSB and UBA operate.

The newly launched multi benefit structure which offers partners a comprehensive value proposition, was unveiled at the inaugural UBA Aggregator Engagement Session, held at the Bank’s Head Office in Lagos on Tuesday.

The session themed, “POS-itive Impact: Connecting Agents, Merchants, and Customers,” served as a collaborative platform to align strategies for scaling the UBAMONI Agency Banking ecosystem and bringing together key industry aggregators, Point-of-Sale (POS) partners, and network managers,

Emmanuel Lamptey, UBA’s executive director designate, Digital Banking, who spoke at the event, emphasised the critical role partnerships play in achieving national financial inclusion objectives.

“Today’s session marks a pivotal step in our collective journey to democratise financial access in Nigeria. By bringing together our valued aggregators and partners, we are strengthening the ecosystem that connects UBA directly to communities and ensuring that reliable financial services is within everyone’s reach,” he stated.

Emphasising the need for partnerships, Shamsideen Fashola, UBA’s head, Digital Banking, who presented the keynote address, outlined the strategic imperative behind the new structure.

“Our aggregators are fundamental to realising our ambition of building Africa’s most impactful digital collections network. This structured framework is designed to be scalable, transparent, and mutually rewarding, empowering our partners with the technology and support needed to drive agent productivity as well as serve under-served communities effectively,” Fashola noted.

The platform delivers comprehensive value to agents and aggregators alike, featuring instant settlement, reliable transaction processing, real-time dashboard reporting, and a full suite of services including dispute and terminal management, analytics, card withdrawals, bill payments, and pay-with-transfer.

For aggregators specifically, the model provides a structured opportunity to on board and manage agents within UBA’s network, access attractive incentives and commissions, as well as leverage a dedicated Aggregator Admin Portal for real-time visibility into agent performance and transactions

Adetunji Iyiola, UBA’s head, Agency Banking, who noted the customer-centric focus of the initiative, emphasized that the structure fundamentally strengthens the collaboration between UBA, merchants, and agent

“This rollout is about creating superior value for every stakeholder, and enabling better service delivery to customers while ensuring our partners have the tools and incentives to thrive. It reinforces our promise to deliver essential banking services exactly where they are needed most”. he said.

With the introduction of the aggregator framework, UBA further cements its leadership in pioneering innovative digital financial solutions that bridge the inclusion gap and drive economic empowerment across the African continent.

United Bank for Africa 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, 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.

A few days ago, I was dragging my luggage through Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Everything felt bright and beautiful.

Not necessarily in aesthetics, but in the vibrant colours, sounds, and energy all around.

After three intensive years in the UK, I was finally back home. Ready for the hustle and bustle of Lagos life, and yes, the comfort of my parents’ home.

The plan was simple. Settle down and get my life on track. I’d sorted the job, and I had my person. But then came my dilemma. Money!

This doesn’t mean I was short of it or had too much of it. The real issue is where to actually keep and manage it in this country with daily dramatic happenings.

With just two weeks left before I resumed at my new workplace, I had no time for long queues, endless paperwork, or the classic, “Nigeria bank stress.” So, I needed an account, and I needed it fast.

So I turned to my best friend, Google, and typed, “Instant account opening in Nigeria.”

In less than a second, I was redirected to the United Bank for Africa instant account opening portal. A few taps later, and I had a fully functional account. Just like that. I could receive my funds, transfer my funds, and start building my financial life here again.

In less than a second, I was redirected to the United Bank for Africa instant account opening portal. A few taps later, and I had a fully functional account. Just like that.

I could receive my funds, transfer my funds, and start building my financial life here again. Talk about ease, and this beautiful experience truly exemplified that definition

I was genuinely amazed. It felt too easy, almost suspiciously easy.

But it was real, I mean, really soft like they were just thinking all about me while developing this new feature.

If you’re like me and pressed for time, avoiding unnecessary stress, or just ready to sort your finances without the hassle, consider this your sign.

UBA’s instant account opening is a game-changer. No queues to cut into your precious time.

Just you and your phone, minutes away from being banked.

Get started here.

Trust me, if I could do it between unpacking and settling in, you can do it too. Your future self will thank you.

This, according to him, is critical if the South Eastern region of the country is to unlock its long-term development agenda under the South-East Vision 2050 (S8V2050).

Alawuba made the call while delivering a goodwill remark at the South-East Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholder Forum which was held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu on Wednesday.

The multi-day forum was convened by the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, the Ministry of Regional Development and the South-East State Governments, to build consensus around a shared development pathway for the region and advance implementation-ready interventions aligned with national priorities.

Speaking in his capacity as GMD/CEO as well as the Chairman of the Body of Banks’ CEOs and on behalf of Corporate Nigeria, Alawuba identified peace and security as the most urgent requirement for attracting investment into the region, noting that safety remains the first signal investors assess before committing capital.

“The first thing the South-East needs is peace. It is an established fact, world over, that investments flow in the direction of safety,” Alawuba stated, urging state governments and regional leaders to sustain coordinated efforts to secure lives, assets and infrastructure.

He also challenged stakeholders to adopt a results-driven partnership model between government and the private sector; just as he noted that the success of the South-East Vision 2050 will largely depend on the region’s ability to articulate and package clear, measurable and value-adding projects capable of attracting long-term capital.

“Vision alone is not enough. The South-East must present specific, bankable projects with defined impact – projects that can unlock investment, create jobs and deliver real improvements in the lives of our people,” Alawuba stated.

The Forum brought together prominent Nigerians from across government and the private sector, including His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governors of the South-East States (Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu), Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the House of Representatives.

Other key participants included the Honourable Minister of Regional Development, the Chairman, Board Members and Management of SEDC, Royal Fathers and members of the clergy, members of the Diplomatic Corps, captains of industry, and development partners.

The UBA CEO took time to commend the South-East Governors for visible progress in road construction and other critical facilities across the region, while calling for accelerated delivery at scale.

He said,

“Infrastructure is the bedrock of development,” he said. “We have seen improvements, but a little bit more is required such as reliable power, motorable roads, rail, water and connectivity to remove the bottlenecks that limit productivity and competitiveness.”

While stressing the importance of creating a truly investor-friendly business environment and unlocking diaspora capital to drive inclusive growth, he added that “Capital will always respond to predictability, ease of doing business and confidence. If we get the fundamentals right, Corporate Nigeria and the banking industry will rally round to finance viable projects, support SMEs, create jobs for our youth and mobilize long-term capital to make South-East Vision 2050 a reality.”

He seized the opportunity to reaffirm UBA’s readiness to partner the SEDC and South-East State Governments, as he noted that the Vision 2050 framework will be strengthened by private-sector participation and long-term capital mobilization to ensure it remains credible and investable.

United Bank for Africa 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, 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.

The partnership strengthens Lagos State’s transportation ecosystem and accelerates the shift toward a structured, technology-enabled and financially bankable mobility sector.

Over the past 10 months, Lagride has rebuilt its entire onboarding and operational system for drivers, known as Lagride Captains.

The platform introduced a performance-led Drive To Earn structure supported by weekly and monthly rental models.

This system has generated consistent 90-day usage and repayment data across the fleet, allowing United Bank for Africa and other financial institutions to assess driver performance with accuracy, confidence and transparency.

Eligibility for the Drive To Own programme is based on clearly defined performance thresholds, repayment discipline, safety compliance and service consistency.

Through this approach, Lagride has emerged as the most structured, data-driven and credit-ready mobility platform in Nigeria, setting a new benchmark for bankable driver financing and asset ownership.

“Transportation is the backbone of Africa’s economic future, and platforms like Lagride are creating the blueprint for how African cities can build modern, technology-driven and people-centred mobility systems.”

EV Infrastructure Expansion

As part of the milestone, Lagride also unveiled an expanded electric vehicle charging facility in Alausa, Lagos, reinforcing its long-term commitment to clean, future-ready mobility.

The expanded infrastructure is designed to support the growing electric vehicle segment within Lagride’s fleet, reduce operational downtime and enable more efficient, sustainable transportation at scale.

By pairing driver financing with practical EV infrastructure, Lagride is positioning itself as a mobility platform built not just for today’s Lagos, but for the next generation of urban transport.

Chairman’s Vision: From Drivers to Investors

Speaking on the landmark partnership, Chief Diana Chen, chairman, Lagride, stated that the ultimate goal of the Drive To Own programme is not to keep drivers behind the wheel indefinitely, but to move them up the economic value chain.

She explained that Lagride is intentionally designed to help drivers evolve from operators into owners, and ultimately into investors and partners managing multiple vehicles and teams of people.

“Lagride was created to give Lagos a modern, disciplined and technology-driven mobility system while ensuring that drivers are not left behind. The goal is for drivers who we call Captains to become business owners, fleet partners and mobility investors, not just drivers. This 100 million dollar partnership with United Bank for Africa moves thousands of captains closer to owning productive assets, managing multiple cars and building stronger financial futures. It is a major step forward in our commitment to driver prosperity and the future of smart mobility in Lagos.”

She noted that the Drive To Own programme is a starting point, not an endpoint, laying the foundation for long-term enterprise building, governance and scalable wealth creation within the mobility sector.

UBA’s Perspective

Delivering remarks at the event, Oliver Alawuba, group managing director and CEO, United Bank for Africa, shared a personal reflection on his father, who had been a professional driver.

He spoke about transportation as a source of dignity, livelihood and social mobility, and why UBA considers the sector critical to inclusive economic growth.

He also recounted his reaction when Chief Diana Chen first shared the Lagride vision, describing it as clear, ambitious and strongly aligned with UBA’s commitment to financing real-sector projects that create jobs, build assets and deliver long-term economic impact.

According to him, Lagride represents the kind of transformational, well-governed and data-backed initiative that UBA exists to support across Africa.

Event Speakers and Signatories

The event featured contributions from key stakeholders across Lagride, UBA and CIG Motors Group, including:

• Chief Diana Chen, chairman, Lagride
• Ademola Adeyemi, Lagride Academy and Driver Management Team Lead
• Dorathy Akpan Etim, Lagride Captain on the Drive To Own Scheme with UBA
• Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Udaya, special adviser to the Chairman on Government Relations, who signed on behalf of CIG Motors
• Ifeanyi Abraham, PR director, Lagride, who hosted the event

Other Dignitaries in Attendance

Also present were senior executives and leaders from UBA, Lagride and CIG Motors Group, including:

Wei Bin, Chief Operations Officer, Lagride; Babatunde Ajayi, head of SME Banking; Alero Ladipo, group head, Marketing and Corporate Communications; Olufemi Osobajo, head of Segments and Channels Marketing; Olufemi Bamigbetan, head, REDTV; Ramon Nasir, head of Media Relations; Abiodun Coker, Media Relations, and Adetola Adeduwon, head of Events.

From CIG: Eniola Olutimehin, chief operating officer, CIG Motors; Dr Ram, chief financial officer, CIG
Mrs Manyo Pam, general manager, Operations, CIG; Mr Martin, managing director, Gree, and Mr Roamen, managing director, Lontor.

The partnership underscores a shared commitment by Lagride, United Bank for Africa and CIG Motors Group to build a disciplined, scalable and investor-ready mobility ecosystem where drivers can grow into business leaders, asset owners and long-term partners in Lagos’ transportation future.

Held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the event, themed “United Frontiers: Growth Powered by Innovation, Collaboration, and Compliance,” brought together regulators, fintech leaders, bankers, and innovators to discuss how Africa can balance innovation with compliance to ensure inclusive growth.

Speakers included Musa Jimoh, director of Payment Systems at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Chika Nwosu, managing director of PalmPay; Vincent Ogbunude, CEO of Verve International; and Akeem Lawal, managing director, Interswitch Purepay.

Speaking at the event, Cherry Eromosele, executive vice president, Marketing and Corporate Communications at Interswitch, said the TechConnect series has evolved into a platform for enabling inclusion, aligning regulation with innovation, and strengthening collaboration across the ecosystem.

On Interswitch’s newest innovations, Vincent Ogbunude unveiled cutting-edge solutions such as tokenisation, digital card storage, tap-to-pay transactions, and cross-border interoperability designed to unify Africa’s fragmented payment landscape.

“Interswitch has already crossed the 100 million-card milestone in Nigeria. But we know the future is digital. We’re now enabling users to digitise their cards, store them on mobile devices, and make secure tap-to-pay transactions,” he said.

Ogbunude added that over 40 million Verve cards with contactless functionality have already been rolled out across markets including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire, an achievement that will speed up the continent’s transition to seamless payments.

In his comments, Akeem Lawal noted that compliance is indispensable when it comes to innovation:

“You cannot build sustainable innovation without compliance. It is the foundation of trust, customer experience, and long-term growth. Many see compliance as a checklist; we see it as guardrails that make innovation sustainable,” he said.

The event concluded with awards recognising partners including FirstBank, Zenith Bank, UBA, GTBank, PalmPay, Moniepoint, OneAfriq, Fincra, and others for their contributions to enhancing the payments ecosystem.

The awards presentation session for “Outstanding Performance” was led by the VP, Sales & Account Management, Interswitch Systegra, Robinta Aliyu, and the VP, Business Development, Interswitch Purepay, Etitayo Awe.

The initiative was formalised at the official Ribbon Cutting ceremony held at the UBA Oba Akran 2 branch, Ikeja-Lagos Nigeria on Wednesday, by Mr. Svein Bæra, the Nordic Ambassador to Nigeria, which followed a walkthrough of the Inverter/Battery Room and Operations by Renewvia Team.

This initiative reflects a growing commitment to sustainable investment and innovation, a key message emphasized by Tony Elumelu, UBA group chairman, during the recent Norway–Africa Business Summit held in Oslo, where he urged global partners to view Africa not as an aid destination, but as a continent of opportunity and enterprise.

“Africa needs partners, not charity,” Elumelu stated in Oslo, calling for deeper collaboration built on mutual respect, entrepreneurship, and investment.

The partnership between UBA and Renewvia embodies that call, channelling Nordic investment and African innovation into tangible, long-term impact. Supported by Empower New Energy, a leading Norway-based renewable investment company, and Incremental Energy Solutions (IES), the project will deliver the first phase of 152,000 kWh of clean energy monthly, reducing UBA’s carbon footprint by over 89,000 kilograms of CO₂ each month.

Under a 10-year Power-as-a-Service agreement, Renewvia will deploy advanced solar and battery hybrid systems across UBA’s branches, ensuring superior power reliability, operational efficiency, and an enhanced customer experience.

Upon full rollout, the project will cover 50 locations across 18 states, representing 3 MWp of solar capacity and 7 MWh of energy storage.

Muyiwa Akinyemi, UBA’s deputy managing director, said,

“At UBA, we believe sustainability is not just a responsibility but a key part of building Africa’s future. This project demonstrates how innovation and partnership can deliver lasting impact in terms of growth and advancement as well as reducing our carbon footprint, improving operational efficiency, and contributing to a cleaner environment. Continuing, he said, “We are proud to work with Renewvia Solar Nigeria, Incremental Energy Solutions, and Empower New Energy to make this vision a reality.”

On his part, Adebowale Dosunmu, the managing director, Renewvia Solar Nigeria Limited, said,

“This partnership with UBA marks a major milestone in our mission to deliver reliable, clean energy to commercial and industrial clients across Nigeria. We are proud to support UBA’s leadership in sustainability and operational excellence”.

Oladipupo Omodara, the CEO, Incremental Energy Solutions (IES) Ltd, who also spoke on the project, said,

“We appreciate the cooperation and proactiveness of the UBA management team, whose support helped bring this remarkable project and partnership to life. We at IES are particularly pleased that this success reinforces our commitment to helping Africa claim its rightful place in global energy investment and technology deployment,” .

Giving his remarks, Terje Osmundsen, the CEO, Empower New Energy, stated that Empower New Energy is proud to be the financing partner for landmark project with Renewvia Solar Nigeria, supporting UBA’s commitment to cleaner and more reliable energy.

“This partnership reflects our mission to enable African businesses access sustainable power through innovative financing. It also demonstrates the strength of Nordic-African cooperation in accelerating the transition to renewable energy,” Osmundsen explained.

Earlier, in his goodwill message, Mr Svein Bæra, the Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, noted that the partnership is a shining example of what can be achieved when African ambition meets Nordic investment and innovative practices.

“It also represents not just an energy milestone, but a strong statement of shared commitment to sustainable growth and climate responsibility,”.

This collaboration underscores UBA’s position as a bank at the forefront of sustainability, integrating renewable energy to power its operations and reduce emissions. It also highlights the crucial role of Nordic investment through Empower New Energy in accelerating Nigeria’s transition toward cleaner, more reliable energy systems.

Most importantly in terms of Africa’s rapid growth and advancement, it also aligns with Tony Elumelu’s broader vision of transforming Africa through entrepreneurship, private sector leadership, and strategic global alliances,  partnerships that build capacity, create jobs, and unlock long-term value for both continents.

The whitepaper, titled “Banking on Africa’s Future: Unlocking Capital and Partnerships for Sustainable Growth,” will be unveiled on the sidelines of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in October 2025 in Washington, D.C., placing Africa’s economic agenda at the heart of global financial discussions.

The document presents a comprehensive and actionable framework for unlocking Africa’s vast economic potential, providing analysis of critical growth pillars including trade facilitation, infrastructure development, digital innovation, climate finance, and inclusive growth, while showcasing strategies for leveraging domestic capital alongside strategic global partnerships to access the continent’s $3.4 trillion single market potential under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Tony Elumelu, UBA’s group chairman, who emphasised the strategic importance of this whitepaper, explained that over the past few years, the bank has become an active leader in conversations and activities that drive tangible investments to the continent.

“UBA is shifting Africa’s development agenda from talk to action. With this whitepaper, we are championing initiatives that convert strategic dialogue into bankable projects and direct investments. Our commitment to execute these plans for the benefit of the continent and its people cannot be overemphasised,” Elumelu said. “We are committed partners in Africa’s development and sustainability and will continue to provide the capital, the platform, and the network needed to transform Africa’s vast potential into economic growth.”

Oliver Alawuba, UBA’s group managing director and chief executive officer, remarked on the white paper’s significance, highlighting the urgent need for private sector leadership.

“This whitepaper is a call to action and a statement of our capability,” Alawuba said. “It underlines our unique position in facilitating the partnerships and capital flows required to finance Africa’s future, providing the blueprint for action. The document delivers critical insights at a defining moment for Africa’s financial infrastructure.”

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with more than 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.

• Visa Pay is an interoperable payments solution that enables users to pay, get paid and move money.  
• Visa Pay is now available as a mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and as a flexible integration option for banks to embed Visa Pay features directly into their own mobile apps. 
• Visa Pay will be first available through five partner banks — Access Banque, FBN, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque, and UBA with BGFI, Equity Bank and TMB launching soon.

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has launched Visa Pay, an innovative mobile solution that provides access to digital payments and account-to-account money movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Visa Pay is an interoperable and secure way for banked and unbanked consumers to pay, get paid, and move money across participating banks and mobile networks.  

With a focus on accessibility, affordability, and convenience, Visa Pay is tailored to meet the unique financial needs of individuals and businesses in the country.

As a mobile-first solution, Visa Pay offers easy enrolment, advanced risk and fraud prevention capabilities, and near real-time account-to-account money movement in two currencies – CDF and USD.

It also enables cash in / cash out at banks’ branches and facilitates online payments through virtual cards. 

The launching in the DRC in partnership with eight financial institutions: Access Banque, BGFI, Equity Bank, FBN, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque, TMB, and UBA.

It is available as a mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and also as a flexible integration option for banks, allowing them to embed Visa Pay features directly into their own mobile apps. 

Sophie Kafuti, general manager for Visa DRC said: “We are excited to launch Visa Pay, an interoperable solution to scale digital payments in the country. The launch is part of our commitment to driving innovative solutions as a catalyst for greater financial inclusion, helping to provide broader access to the digital economy. Through Visa Pay, we aim to stimulate economic growth and to help establish the DRC as a regional leader in financial technology”. 

The launch of solution in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) exemplifies Visa’s commitment to promoting financial inclusion and supporting economic growth.

By harnessing the transformative power of digital payments with local partnerships, Visa aims to unlock opportunities and empower both individuals and businesses to achieve their full potential.