The United Bank for Africa has harped on its commitment to driving investments into Africa as well as stimulating conversions towards achieving collective growth for the continent.
The deputy managing director of the bank, Mr. Oliver Alawuba stated this at the fourth edition of annual UBA Africa Conversations held in Lagos in commemoration of African unity.
This year’s conversation was held under the theme ‘The importance of reflecting our African culture in global success stories.’
Welcoming participants to the event, Alawuba stated that as Africa’s global bank, UBA remains at the forefront of supporting businesses across the continent.
“It is from Africa that UBA Africa was set up. UBA has invested so much in Africa. We are in 20 African countries and four countries outside Africa. Our focus has always been on driving investments into Africa, through conversations such as this,” he said.
As always, the bank assembled people from diverse backgrounds, including a renowned African musician and songwriter, Youssou Ndour, who delivered the keynote address at the event.
Ndour who spoke on the need for collaboration to boost the continent’s fortunes said: “Young people in Africa have a lot of questions and we have to listen to them and see how together we can be a solution for Africa. We need to understand that there is a lot to do. Together we can make it.”
In his contribution, the Namibian high commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Humphrey Desmond Geiseb talked about how globalisation has been good for Africa.
“Of course, there are still some gaps, there are still a lot of things about Africa that is not known, and I believe that culture and Arts can help to get it right for us.” He added that UBA’s foray as an African bank into the United States of America is a testament to this fact.”
The former commissioner for tourism in Lagos State, Mr. Steve Ayorinde who was also on the panel pointed out that the liberalisation of the media and digital content is helping to improve the African narrative.
“As Africans, we are at the point where no one denigrates the African culture anymore. Indeed there is still a gap, but we are bridging that gap,” he said.
Ghanaian actress and African movie academy award winner, Lydia Forson appreciated UBA’s contribution towards changing the African narrative, saying African culture “is now more widely accepted around the world.”
“It is great to see a bank like UBA being intentional about promoting Africa. Now, the world gets to see more of us, because, we have started to tell our own stories,” she added.
For his part, a fashion designer, Mr. Kenneth Ize, said the continent holds a lot of potential that we are yet to tap into.
“Africa is our home, our culture, and we have to do everything to preserve our culture,” he said.
The UBA Africa Conversations came into being in May 2019 as a hallmark initiative in a series of celebrations for Africa Day.
The Conversations provides a platform for African and global audiences to connect with global thought leaders both in the private and public sectors on their African journey in a quest to change the narrative on Africa from desolate to successful.
