United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is doubling down on its mission to bridge economic gaps by driving diaspora investment into Nigeria.
During a meeting at UBA’s UK office, Group Managing Director Oliver Alawuba hosted Mrs. Abike Dabiri, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), to discuss strengthening these financial ties.
The meeting follows the launch of UBA’s Diaspora Banking platform, a digital ecosystem designed to help Africans abroad manage their finances and tap into investment opportunities back home with ease.
The bank launched the platform, with leading ecosystem partners representing a major step in redefining diaspora banking beyond remittances toward structured wealth creation and long-term investment.
At the strategic meeting with the NIDCOM officials at the UBA UK office on Monday, Alawuba underscored the diaspora’s critical role as a powerful economic force and a generation of builders shaping new narratives for the continent.
While emphasising UBA’s role as a trusted partner for Nigerians at home and abroad, he said: “With UBA, you have a financial partner that is with you, that understands what you are going through, and that can support you to make sure you realise your aspirations, both here and in the country.”
Alawuba further urged the diaspora to leverage the opportunities within Africa’s economic landscape.
“You are not limited here; you have opportunities on the continent, and we want you to make good use of them. That is where banking, and we at UBA, become the connecting point that you need to access the opportunities back home.
“Whether you like it or not, the returns are high in Africa, and we are here to help you navigate that space,” he said.
Reaffirming the bank’s support, Alawuba noted that UBA will leverage its global presence to simplify diaspora investment.
In her response, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of NiDCOM, lauded the bank’s consistent partnership and its recent digital innovations.
She also used the occasion to celebrate the achievements of Nigerians in the diaspora, advocating for a narrative that reflects their true impact and resilience.
She said: “Many of you here are the real game-changers. “For years, it has been wonderful engaging Nigerians all over the world. When I started, it felt like we only heard the bad stories, not the good ones.
“What we have tried to do internationally is to tell and celebrate the good stories. We have Nigerians doing well all over the world, and they are in this room. We must continue to celebrate you.”
Highlighting the synergy between the public and private sectors, she described the meeting as essential for Nigeria’s development agenda.
She committed to a deeper collaboration on policies that encourage the diaspora community to invest directly in the country’s growth and economic future.
The discussions further highlighted UBA’s unique position to facilitate cross-border payments, unlock high-yield investment opportunities, and connect diaspora enterprises to markets across the continent.
With a robust global footprint and an unrivalled African presence, UBA continues to serve as the critical link for those looking to engage with the continent’s growing economy.
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 20 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.
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