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More Accolades for Leo: UBA Emerges best institution in Digital Banking across Africa

Pan-African financial services group, United Bank for Africa Plc, has once again made an addition to its growing list of enviable laurels as it was named Africa’s best bank in the Digital category at the prestigious Euromoney awards in London.
This further lends credence to UBA’s dominance in the digital banking space. The Euromoney awards ceremony which was held on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 covers more than 20 global product categories, best-in-class awards and the best Banks in over 100 countries around the world, recognising institutions that have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and momentum in the markets in which they operate.
In selecting its recipients, Euro money’s principle is hinged both on quantitative and qualitative data to honor institutions that have brought the highest levels of service, innovation and expertise to their customers.
At the awards ceremony, UBA beat other nominees taking away the prize for best institution in Digital banking across Africa, an affirmation of its recent investment in cutting edge technology, one of which gave birth to Leo, the chat banker that has disrupted banking across Africa.
In a bid to be the undisputed leading financial services industry in Africa in the area of innovation and technology, UBA has steadily included new and emerging trends to its range of solutions in-branches, across subsidiaries and on digital platforms. The emergence of LEO, has been a continuous directive to push the banking sector beyond financial services and to show that the bank truly comprehends the shift in operations and the movement of the global world with technology today.
The Euromoney award, which is a recognition of innovative products and services introduced by the bank in recent times and targeted towards meeting customer needs, comes on the heels of recent awards to UBA, including Finnacle Client Innovation Awards and Best Bank Awards won by five of its subsidiaries across Africa by The Bankers Magazine. UBA was also declared the best Bank in Africa in 2017.
Receiving the award at a well attended event in London, the Group Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa, Kennedy Uzoka, appreciated the organizer’s for the recognition, noting that UBA’s dedication to hard work and particular emphasis to offering quality services to customers are being acknowledged.
According to Uzoka, the award affirms the Bank’s strong management and un-matched commitment to service excellence.
He said: “This only goes to show that our resolve in continuing to deploy innovative solutions that place customers first, using cutting edge technology for their collective satisfaction and excellent banking experience is important to us. This recognition will further spur us to do more in meeting the needs of our customers with unrivalled services.”
Uzoka stated “for us at UBA, the award is quite an accomplishment, considering Mark Zuckerberg, CEO Facebook and President Emmanuel Macron of France’s recent endorsement both of which centred around highlighting the distinguishing value of UBA’s leading digital opportunities”.
“Also, our recent launch of Leo in 15 African countries is evidence that UBA has on its agenda, the objective of digital creativity especially in service for our trusted customer base across the African continent. This award reminds us as an institution not to relent in our pursuit of excellence and to continue to lead the new digital age in Africa, within the financial services industry’.
Clive Horwood, Euromoney Magazine’s Editor explained that: “Despite fierce competition, one bank stood out in the last year for the inventiveness of its efforts in digital banking: United Bank for Africa. One of its signature launches in Nigeria was Leo, an e-chat service using artificial intelligence to help customers execute transactions on Facebook”.
“Recently, Mark Zuckerberg gave a nod to the service, during a talk at a recent developers’ conference – a sign of its recognition at the highest levels of digital technology. The bank also recently added retina and fingerprint recognition and technology to reduce business travel greenhouse emissions. If it fulfils its ambitious plans to partner with fintech companies, UBA could continue to lead African banks in the area of digitilisation. “Horwood noted.
UBA is one of Africa’s leading banks with operations in 20 African countries and in London and New York, with presence in Paris.
Adjudged to be at the forefront of innovation and convenient banking, UBA is one of the first financial services institutions on the continent to deploy Finacle 10x, a new information technology platform that boosts its services and electronic banking channels.
Today, UBA provides banking services to more than 15 million customers globally, through diverse channels and over a thousand touch points.
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Access Bank Secures DFIs’ USD 100 Million Facility led by German DEG for MSMEs and Gender Equality in Nigeria

L-R: Saheed Adiamo, Unit Head, Strategic Investments, Access Bank; Roland Siller, Chief Executive Officer, DEG; Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank; Elizabeth Oguegbu, Group Head, Financial Markets and Funding, Access Bank; Uche Onichabor, Team Member, Project and Structured Finance, Access Bank, and Sotochi Ekeocha, Team Member, Strategic Projects and Funding, Access Bank, at the signing of a USD 100 million senior loan facility to support Nigerian MSMEs, small corporates, and women-led businesses, held on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire… recently.
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Access Bank Plc has successfully closed a USD 100 million senior loan facility with a consortium of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), led by the German DFI DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, and supported by FinDev Canada, Amsterdam-based asset manager ILX, as well as Austrian DFI OeEB, Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG. This significant financing will support privately-owned MSMEs, small corporates, and family-owned businesses across Nigeria, with a particular focus on promoting female entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
At least 30 per cent of the facility will be dedicated to gender lens investing in the spirit of the 2X Challenge, ensuring that women-owned and women-managed businesses are prioritised. This initiative is crucial in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, where supporting women entrepreneurs and MSMEs can drive job creation and contribute to reducing inequality.
Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, commented on the partnership, said, “At Access Bank, we remain steadfast in our commitment to driving economic transformation and fostering inclusive growth across all the countries we operate. This partnership not only strengthens our ongoing efforts to empower women in business but also reinforces our support for Nigeria’s MSME sector, which plays a pivotal role in the country’s economic development. Through strategic collaborations like this, we continue to enhance opportunities for underserved communities, and we look forward to building on this success to impact even more lives across Africa.”
This facility marks the fourth collaboration between DEG and Access Bank Group, but it is also the first time in their eight-year partnership that DEG’s has acted as the lead arranger. DEG’s investment in the deal amounts to USD 25 million, strengthening the long-term relationship between the two institutions.
Also, Roland Siller, CEO of DEG shared his thoughts on the partnership, stated that, “This financing marks a major step in our ongoing commitment to supporting inclusive growth in Africa. By partnering with Access Bank, we are not just empowering women entrepreneurs and strengthening MSMEs but also investing in the future of Nigeria’s economy. This collaboration, which has blossomed over the last eight years, goes beyond just providing funding and speaks to our shared commitment in creating sustainable, long-term opportunities that foster job creation and innovation. At DEG, we are focused on helping businesses in developing and emerging markets thrive, offering not just financial support but also advisory services that help them scale and succeed. Our work with Access Bank is a clear example of how we can build stronger economies through impactful, sustainable investments.”
In 2024, Access Bank made significant social and environmental impact across the continent, touching millions of lives and earning multiple industry accolades. Through various corporate social investment initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, health, and the environment, the Group reached over 21 million individuals across Africa. Through its W-Initiative, the Bank disbursed loans to over a million women-led SMEs, advancing financial inclusion and gender empowerment.
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Buy Africa, it’s not inferior”: Ogbonna, Mene, Zubairu Chart Path for Developing Continental Trade at Africa CEO Forum

At the Africa CEO Forum, leaders from across the continent gathered to discuss the critical role of private sector-led growth in the development of African trade and market integration under the topic “Fast-tracking African Integration: The Private Sector Imperative”. The session, which was one of the highlights of the 2-day event in Abidjan, saw Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, join Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA, and Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), in a powerful conversation focused on the opportunities and challenges for Africa in the face of shifting global trade dynamics.
The panellists were united in their belief that Africa’s transformation hinges on the development of regional value chains, the scaling of intra-African trade, and the need to build both financial and infrastructural capacities that will enable economic integration. In his remarks, Ogbonna underscored the potential for the continent to reframe its narrative and urged African nations to embrace their strengths.
He stated, “Years ago, if you told someone something was made in China or Taiwan, it was often seen as inferior. Fast forward 30, 40 years, and now ‘Made in China’ is a symbol of quality, and ‘Made in Taiwan’ commands respect globally. The difference? These countries built a strong domestic market that allowed them to scale, build proficiency, and innovate. Africa is no different. We have everything we need, from abundant raw materials and vast natural resources, to a youthful population and fertile land. There is no reason why Africa has not yet transformed itself into the powerhouse we know it can be. Africa has what it takes to win, and my charge remains the same as I gave during our inaugural Africa Trade Conference in South Africa: Buy Africa, it’s not inferior!”
Mene and Zubairu echoed Ogbonna’s sentiments, with Mene highlighting the tangible steps taken to drive integration, such as the introduction of the e-Tariff Book and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund. Zubairu emphasized the critical need for synergy between public and private investment to address Africa’s infrastructure gaps and finance its development priorities.
The discussion also focused on the barriers preventing the scaling of intra-African trade, notably the lack of adequate logistics and transport infrastructure. The Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS) was highlighted as a potential game-changer in unlocking new cross-border trade opportunities by facilitating smoother payments and transactions.
Ogbonna reinforced the importance of private sector involvement in regional trade, particularly for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). “Africa’s MSMEs are the backbone of its economy,” he said, “yet they face a trade finance gap of around $120 billion. Financial institutions must innovate to close this gap and provide the liquidity these businesses need to grow and scale.”
As Africa continues to explore new avenues for trade and investment, Ogbonna’s message resonated with the audience: the time is now for Africans to believe in Africa, invest in Africa, and transform the continent into the economic powerhouse it is destined to be.
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Okobi, Esomeju, Otaigbe Join Global Leaders to Discuss Sustainable Finance, Economic Transition at UNEP FI’s Regional Roundtable

As part of its continued commitment to sustainability, Access Holdings PLC will be amongst the leading participants in the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Regional Roundtable on Sustainable Finance for Africa and Middle East. Taking place from May 6-7, 2025, in Marrakech, Morocco, the event will bring together regulators, policymakers, and key stakeholders from the financial sector to discuss and shape critical sustainability issues, including climate mitigation and adaptation, nature-positive finance, just transition and financial inclusion, carbon finance, among others.Amaechi Okobi, Chief Brand and Communications Officer of Access Holdings; Edmund Otaigbe, Group Head of Credit Administration, Governance & Project Monitoring, and Njideka Esomeju, Group Head of Products and Segments, will be contributing insights from their extensive experience in driving sustainability within the financial sector. Among the discussions will be sessions dedicated to accelerating the transition of real economy sectors towards sustainability, addressing climate risks, and ensuring financial inclusion. One of the focal points will be how financial institutions can support climate adaptation and resilience, particularly in vulnerable sectors across Africa and the Middle East. The event will further tackle the challenge of unlocking private finance for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), exploring innovative ways to align capital flows with regional sustainability needs.Other high-level dialogues will explore regional collaboration to support sustainability goals, advancing action on climate adaptation, and the regulatory developments promoting sustainable finance across the region. Panels will focus on topics such as financing and insuring MSMEs for climate resilience and fostering an inclusive transition by ensuring that vulnerable communities and underserved populations are not left behind in the push for green growth.Prominent speakers at the event include Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda; Louise Gardiner, Senior Operations Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC); Lily Burge, Policy Manager, Climate Bonds Initiative; Samuel Tiriongo, Director of Research and Policy, Kenya Bankers Association;Walid Ali, General Manager, Sustainability Department, Central Bank of Egypt; Yasser Mounsif, Director of Issuers, Moroccan Capital Market Authority, alongside other leaders in sustainable finance.
www.accessbankplc.com The UNEP FI Regional Roundtable promises to be a critical platform for deepening collaboration among stakeholders across Africa and the Middle East, with the shared goal of creating a resilient, sustainable future for the region.###Access Holdings PlcAccess Holdings Plc is a leading multinational financial services group that offers banking, lending, payment, insurance, and pensions services. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, Access Holdings operates through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets, spanning three continents, 24 countries, and 60+ million customers.Access transitioned into a holding company to drive rapid growth and become a full-scale ecosystem player offering interconnected services across customer needs. Established in 2022, Access Holdings Plc consists of the Access Bank Group; Access ARM Pensions; a Payment and Switching Services Company; a Digital Lending Company, and an Insurance Brokerage Company. The banking vertical serves its various markets through four business segments: Retail, Business, Commercial and Corporate, and has enjoyed what is it arguably Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in the last eighteen years, becoming one of Africa’s largest retail banks by customer base and Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest bank by total assets. Access Holdings strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible, and socially relevant, helping customers to access more and achieve their dreams.About Access Bank PLC Access Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc, is a leading full-service commercial bank operating through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets spanning 3 continents, 24 countries and over 60 million customers. The Bank employs over 28,000 people in its operations in Africa and Europe, with representative offices in China, Lebanon, India, and the UAE.Access Bank’s parent company, Access Holdings Plc, has been listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1998. The Bank is a diversified financial institution which combines a strong retail customer franchise and digital platform with deep corporate banking expertise, proven risk management and capital management capabilities. The Bank services its various markets through three key business segments: Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Retail Banking. The Bank has enjoyed
www.accessbankplc.com what is arguably Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in the last 20 years, becoming one of the continent’s largest retail banks.As part of its continued growth strategy, Access Bank is focused on mainstreaming sustainable business practices into its operations. The Bank strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible, and socially relevant, helping customers to access more and achieve their dreams.
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