Good afternoon, distinguished guests.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this vital topic.
Let me be direct:
There is no sustainable development without peace — and no lasting peace without economic opportunity.
At the United Bank for Africa, we operate in over 20 African countries, as well as in the U.S., the UK, France, and the UAE — serving more than 50 million customers.
We catalyse economic growth; we connect Africa to the world and the world to Africa.
And we’ve seen it firsthand: when instability strikes, businesses close, jobs vanish, investments flee, and families suffer.
Peace is not only a moral imperative — it is an economic necessity.
In February 2025, we reaffirmed our belief in this truth with a $500,000 donation to the African Union Peace Fund – one of the Private Sector Supporters.
Because we believe African businesses must take the lead in building the stability our continent needs.
The AU Peace Fund has mobilized roughly $398 million as of mid-2024.
But 98 percent came from member states — only 2 percent from the private sector.
That must change.
This is where Africapitalism comes in — the philosophy that the private sector must drive Africa’s transformation through long-term investment and shared prosperity.
At UBA, our white paper, Banking on Africa’s Future, revealed that our continent holds an estimated $4 trillion in untapped domestic capital.
The challenge isn’t a lack of resources — it’s a lack of frameworks to mobilize them for peace, for infrastructure, for development.
We must make the private sector a foundational pillar of peacebuilding.
When businesses invest in peace, we are not offering charity — we are protecting our operations, our people, and our future markets.
This alignment of incentives creates accountability and long-term commitment.
And as African businesses trade and invest across borders, we build relationships that transcend politics.
Economic integration is, in itself, peacebuilding.
Afreximbank’s $210 million pledge over three years to the AU Peace Fund is a game-changer — the largest private sector commitment to date.
It shows what’s possible when African institutions lead with purpose.
UBA is proud to partner with Afreximbank on several initiatives, and we see this collaboration as the model to scale peace financing across the continent.
The truth is, too many businesses still see peace financing as philanthropy — not investment.
We can change that by showing impact.
By showcasing success stories, by proving that peace yields returns — even if those returns come in the form of stability, market access, and reduced risk.
The formula is simple:
Peace enables business.
Business creates opportunity.
Opportunity reduces conflict.
This virtuous cycle is how we build lasting prosperity.
Peace is the foundation — but it connects to everything else we do.
Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we invest in youth entrepreneurship because we know it is the most powerful antidote to poverty and conflict.
To date, we have disbursed over $120m through the provision of non-refundable seed capital to over 24,000 young African entrepreneurs — lifting two million people out of poverty.
Their businesses have generated over $4 billion in revenue and created 1.5 million jobs.
And through our digital platform, TEFConnect, more than 2.5 million young Africans have accessed training and mentorship.
Every entrepreneur we empower is one less potential recruit for violence, and one more engine of peace and progress.
Today’s conversation must not end with words — it must lead to action.
At UBA, our contribution to the AU Peace Fund is not symbolic — it is a call to collective responsibility.
Because Africa has the resources, the talent, and the will to achieve lasting peace.
What we need now is collective commitment — governments, businesses, and citizens working hand in hand.
Together, let us build the peaceful and prosperous Africa we all envision.
Thank you.
TOE
