By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa UBA Plc, has reinforced its standing as one of the continent’s most resilient and innovative financial institutions after being named African Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker, a leading global finance publication owned by the Financial Times of London.
The prestigious recognition marks the third time in five years that UBA has won the continental award, reflecting the bank’s consistency, scale, and strong execution across multiple African markets. In addition to the top continental honour, UBA also emerged as Best Bank of the Year in nine of its twenty African subsidiaries. These include Sierra Leone, Benin, Chad, Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, and Zambia.
The awards ceremony took place at The Peninsula Hotel in London, drawing senior executives from major global financial institutions. UBA was represented by the Chief Executive Officer of UBA UK, Deji Adeyelure, who received the awards on behalf of the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba. He was joined by senior executives, including the Head of Business Development, Mark Ifashe, and the Head of Financial Institutions, Shilpam Jha.
In its citation, The Banker described UBA’s performance as outstanding, noting the bank’s ability to compete strongly against larger rivals on the continent. The publication stated that winning Africa’s Bank of the Year for the third time in five years was a remarkable achievement and highlighted that UBA secured nine country awards, representing about a quarter of all awards across Africa and more than any other continent wide banking group.
The magazine also pointed to the wide geographic spread of UBA’s success, covering the Economic Community of West African States, the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, and the Southern African Development Community. Particular attention was given to Benin and Mozambique, which were described as highly competitive markets where UBA delivered exceptional results.
Strong financial performance was another factor behind the recognition. In 2024, UBA recorded a 46.8 percent increase in total assets and a 6.1 percent rise in profits before tax in local currency terms. The bank also continued to make significant investments in technology and human capital to strengthen service delivery and operational efficiency. In the first half of 2025, operating revenue and profit in West Africa grew sharply by 87 percent and 89 percent respectively.
Reacting to the award, Group CEO Oliver Alawuba said the recognition affirms the bank’s long term strategy and focus on customers. He described the achievement as a reflection of disciplined execution, continuous innovation, and a deep understanding of the diverse markets in which the bank operates. He also credited the trust of customers and the commitment of UBA’s workforce across all regions.
UBA is one of the largest employers in Africa’s financial sector, with a workforce of about 25,000 people serving over 45 million customers worldwide. The bank operates in 20 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates, providing retail, commercial, and institutional banking services while promoting financial inclusion through modern technology driven solutions.
