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As UBA Plc Prepares For Recapitalization….

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BY FUNSHO AROGUNDADE
For the United Bank for Africa (UBA Plc), its rich history is matchless. With its origins dating back to 1949, the bank which prides itself as Africa’s global bank has carved its niche as a leading financial institution in sub-Saharan Africa, growing into one of the continent’s most influential banks. UBA’s evolution from a local Nigerian bank to a pan-African and global financial institution is remarkable. Its ability to balance its African identity with a global outlook has made it one of the most trusted and dynamic banks on the continent.
Of course, much has been said about the bank’s qualitative and quantitative values. For millions of UBA customers and its present —and prospective— shareholders, there is a guarantee qualitatively non-numeric value of the bank’s solid business model, firm brand value, competitive edge, and most importantly, a list of bright minds on its roster led by quick-witted entrepreneur, Tony Onyeamechi Elumelu —as Chairman— running its operations. Even, on its numeric value, the banking behemoth has consistently maintained a strong balance sheet.
Over the years, UBA has demonstrated sound financial management, risk mitigation, and strong capital adequacy ratios, all of which have contributed to its robust financial standing.
Many would recall the heydays of the banking sector consolidation boom between 2005 and 2007. Perhaps no other bank took, more seriously, to heart, the call by the then CBN Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, that Nigeria banks should aspire to be global players like UBA did. While many other banks also hearkened to that call, but given the overwhelming advantages such economies of scale would bring to a bank, the then Tony Elumelu-led management of UBA quickly set about rebranding the bank as ‘Africa’s Global Bank’. Within a few years, the bank got full commercial licenses in many countries with these offshore branches adding value to the bank’s operations and diversifying its revenue base.
Over the decades, the bank has scaled its expansion offshore and forged ahead to increase its presence on the continent and today it stands out with its unique blend of a strong African identity and a global vision that spans across 20 African countries, as well as key international financial hubs, including New York, London, Paris, and Dubai.
“Our success is a testament to the effectiveness of UBA’s global strategy and our role as the financial intermediary for Africa and the world,” Elumelu said.
UBA has indeed created opportunities for millions of Africans to open accounts, secure loans, and engage in financial activities that were previously out of reach. This wide-reaching approach to financial inclusion aligns with UBA’s broader goal of contributing to economic empowerment across the continent. By making financial services accessible, UBA is supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agriculture, and other sectors that are vital to African economies.
The bank’s balance sheet, which has grown steadily, is now heavily driven by its African operations. In fact, over 50% of its balance sheet is derived from its African subsidiaries —a remarkable milestone that underscores UBA’s deep integration into the economies across the continent.
The Group’s results, which were released to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Friday 3 May 2024, saw outstanding year-on-year increases: Gross Earnings rose by 110%, from N271.1billion to N570.2 billion; Interest Income grew by 130%, to N440.7 billion. Operating Income increased by 115%, from N175.7 billion in 2023, to N378.59 billion.
Further consolidating the record performance delivered in the Group’s 2023 Full Year Audited Financials, UBA again saw Profit Before Tax rising significantly by 155% from N61.7 billion in Q1 2023, to N156.34 billion in Q1 2024; while Profit After Tax jumped from N53.5 billion to N142.5 billion, representing an impressive rise of 165% year-on-year.
“The vision of going into these countries is paying off and will continue to pay off. We will continue to invest in Africa and deepen our market share. Our market share in those countries is improving and if you go to some of these countries, UBA is one of the top three banks and they appreciate the contribution of the bank to their economy,” said Oliver Alawuba, the Group Managing Director of UBA Plc.
With nearly two decades since the last recapitalisation effort, the banking sector is once again poised to play a crucial role in accelerating economic growth and achieving the Nigerian government’s 2030 vision of a trillion-dollar economy.
On 28 March 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced a directive for banks in Nigeria to recapitalize with the pivotal objectives of strengthening the banking industry and mitigating systemic risks. The CBN new guidelines on the minimum capital requirement for banks ranges from N50 billion to N500 billion —depending on the type of licence held by the bank— and the fresh funds must not necessarily be related to the existing shareholder funds. In total, approximately N4.14 trillion is expected to be raised between now and 31 March, 2026.
Experts have said true financial security and wealth creation comes from owning assets whether stocks, bonds, or a piece of real estate. In all, as they encourage people to own assets of different classes, they are always making a case for people to own shares of banks, especially UBA Plc whose share stood at N24.25 per unit at the close of Wednesday’s trading.
These analysts relayed their trust and overall satisfaction with the bank, as well as recommended it to other investors. They rated the bank on five criteria: trustworthiness, terms and conditions (such as fees and rates), customer service (wait times and helpfulness of employees), digital services (ease of using the website and app), and quality of financial advice. However, a significantly challenged macroeconomic environment, characterised by high inflation following the significant devaluation of the naira, presents a more difficult hurdle for banks this time around. But despite these Nigeria’s macro headwinds which trigger the proposed upward review of the banks’ capital base, Alawuba exercises no fear with UBA’s huge customer deposits of N18 trillion, shareholders’ fund of N2 trillion and customer base of about 45 million across Africa. Indeed, UBA operates with the highest licence available —which is an international licence.
On the value proposition of UBA to investors ahead of the fresh banking sector recapitalisation, the UBA GMD speaks more with a strong conviction; ”UBA is that bank that investors can look onto. In 2023, our capital appreciation was one of the highest on the exchange. For the past two years, our dividend yield has been above 12% and when you look at the bank presence in 24 countries, it shows a diversification of income stream but also highlights the unique investment proposition we offer,” Alawuba said.
While projecting that the shares of UBA could hit N100 per unit on the stock exchange, the bank boss added, “When you invest in UBA shares, you are essentially gaining exposure to the economic potential of 24 different markets. Therefore, it is crucial for us to communicate to Nigerian investors that UBA’s current share price is undervalued, presenting a substantial opportunity for those looking to invest in a bank with a truly global footprint.”
With a focus on sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity, UBA is not only a financial institution but a key enabler of Africa’s long-term growth and global integration. These have positioned the bank well for the future. With generous bonuses and promotions and a variety of products, UBA has become a popular choice for consumers across the continent. As the bank celebrate 75 years, it reassures customers of its commitment to a strong corporate governance built on the foundation of trust, adaptability, strong relationships, innovation, and service excellence.

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Heirs Life Names Pastor Jerry Eze Independent Non-Executive Director

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Heirs Life appoints Jerry Eze as an Independent Non-Executive Director to strengthen financial inclusion, consumer trust and insurance adoption (more…)

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Shoreline Group secures US$200 million Afreximbank Facility

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Shoreline Group today announced that African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has approved a US$200 million facility in favour of Shoreline Power Company Limited and co-borrowers including Arkad S.p.A., Shoreline’s majority-owned engineering and construction platform.
Approved in June 2026, the facility was arranged and provided by Afreximbank as sole mandated lead arranger and lender. It provides bonding and working-capital capacity for Arkad’s delivery of the Hassi Bir Rekaiz project and supports Shoreline and its affiliates in developing further pipeline and infrastructure
projects in Nigeria and other permitted jurisdictions.
“This is a defining transaction for Shoreline and Arkad. We built Arkad as an African- sponsored engineering platform capable of competing at the highest level, and it is now delivering against a billion-dollar energy contract. Afreximbank’s US$200 million commitment gives the platform the financial strength to match its engineering capability and pursue further major infrastructure mandates. It demonstrates that African enterprises can assemble the capital, capability and partnerships required to compete for infrastructure at international scale.”
Hassi Bir Rekaiz Phase 2a Arkad holds 44 per cent of the approximately US$1 billion EPCCS-1 contract awarded by Groupement
Hassi Bir Rekaiz (GHBR) to an unincorporated consortium led by Egypt’s Petrojet, which holds 56 percent. EPCCS-1 covers engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up for the Phase 2a central processing facility and related infrastructure at the Hassi Bir Rekaiz field in Algeria’s Berkine
Basin.
GHBR is the joint operating entity for the licence, held by Sonatrach with 51 per cent and Thailand’s PTTEP with 49 per cent. The project includes a new crude oil processing facility with capacity of 31,500 barrels per day, facilities for associated gas and produced-water treatment, approximately 217 kilometres
of pipelines and the brownfield modifications required to integrate existing Phase 1 infrastructure.
The facilities are designed to support later expansion to 63,000 barrels per day under Phase 2b.
“This financing addresses the instruments that determine whether an EPC contractor can execute at scale: performance guarantees, advance payment guarantees and working capital through the project cycle. Hassi Bir Rekaiz is a demanding scope, combining a new central processing facility, associated treatment systems, pipelines and brownfield integration. With Petrojet, and with the support of Shoreline and Afreximbank, Arkad is focused on disciplined delivery against the project’s safety, quality and schedule requirements.”
The transaction was structured under Afreximbank’s Engineering, Procurement and Construction Initiative, which supports African engineering and construction firms with the financial instruments required to compete for and execute large infrastructure contracts. Afreximbank also supported the Arkad-Petrojet partnership through its EPC twinning work at the Intra-African Trade Fair held in Algiers
in 2025.
According to Afreximbank, the transaction is its first support for a Sub-Saharan African contractor undertaking a major infrastructure project in North Africa. For Shoreline, it demonstrates a practical model for combining African ownership and capital with established international engineering andindustrial capability.

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BUSINESSWOMAN AISHA ACHIMUGU SPEAKS OUT, CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF LIFE AND RESPECT FOR RULE OF LAW

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Nigerian businesswoman and investor Aisha Achimugu has made a public appeal for the protection of her life, her family, and her business interests while alleging a sustained campaign of intimidation, media trial, and asset seizures.

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Achimugu, in a statement Tuesday, said she is facing actions that she described as an affront to the rule of law and natural justice.
She then called for the respect for court orders and for an end to what she termed misleading media coverage about her person and companies.
According to Achimugu, the widow of the late Engr. Sulaiman Achimugu, former Managing Director of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, she has over the last three decades built businesses in the oil and gas and other sectors, and runs the SAM Empowerment Foundation, SEF, which she said has implemented health, education, and community projects across Nigeria.
The businesswoman, however, alleged that since 2023 she has been the subject of investigations and actions by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Narrating her ordeals, Achimugu noted that in 2023, the EFCC’s Port Harcourt zonal office froze her personal accounts, her children’s accounts, and company accounts linked to the Felak Group, based on an interim forfeiture order.
She said this was connected to a mistaken association with MBA Forex and Capital Investment.
Achimugu stated that in January 2024 she honoured an EFCC invitation with her counsel, clarified her company’s single transaction with MBA Forex, and refunded N58 million by bank draft to the EFCC recovery account.
In March 2025, the businesswoman said she received WhatsApp messages inviting her to the EFCC Port Harcourt office. Her lawyer responded in writing, proposing dates in April 2025. Despite this, she alleged a media campaign began on March 10, 2025 linking her to wrongdoing.
On March 28, 2025, the same day her company, Oceangate Oil & Gas Limited, submitted proof of $20 million payment to NUPRC for oil blocks PPL 302-DO and PPL 3007, subsequently, she claimed the EFCC declared her a “Wanted Person” for “conspiracy and money laundering.” She also alleged that EFCC operatives searched her home that day.
In April 2025, Achimugu said she filed a fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja. But upon returning to Nigeria on April 28, 2025 from a foreign trip, she alleged she was taken into EFCC custody, granted bail by a judge, but released five days later. She also said her international passport was collected.
She alleged further asset actions, including freezing of bank accounts, and the seizure of vehicles from her home in January 2026. She said matters relating to these actions are the subject of ongoing litigation and appeals.
Achimugu also alleged that her United States visa was revoked in April 2025, and that she encountered issues with visa processing related to her Grenadian citizenship, which she linked to media reports citing the EFCC’s declaration.
Achimugu stated that she has invested nearly $90 million in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector in the last five years and has attracted over $100 million in investments into the economy while directly employs close to 200 Nigerians.
However, she said the actions of the anti-graft agency have affected her business operations, international partnerships, and family, including her elderly parents and young children.
Achimugu then called on the National Assembly, the Judiciary, security services, and local and international human rights organizations to examine her case.
She also asked for the protection of her life and properties, respect for court orders, and an end to what she described as a “media trial”.
“I believe that justice delayed is justice denied, and I am not afraid to face the law provided due process is followed. My lawyers are pursuing all legal remedies locally and internationally,” she said.
Achimugu added that she remains committed to Nigeria and to supporting private sector growth.

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