Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa Plc, has announced its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, posting a 9.4 per cent increase in total assets to N33.2 trillion.
The results, released on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, show that the bank’s assets rose from N30.3 trillion in 2024, while customer deposits grew by 11.8 per cent to N27.2 trillion from N24.3 trillion in the previous year.
Gross earnings, however, declined slightly to N3.09 trillion from N3.19 trillion recorded in 2024. Despite the dip, the bank maintained strong core business performance, supported by its diversified operations across Africa and global markets.
The 2025 performance was influenced by prudent risk management measures, including loan loss provisions of N331 billion and fair value changes on derivatives amounting to N278 billion. These largely non-recurrent adjustments weighed on profitability but are not expected to persist at similar levels.
Notwithstanding these impacts, the Group recorded an operating profit exceeding N1 trillion before exceptional items, underlining the resilience of its core banking operations.
UBA’s capital position remained solid, with shareholders’ funds rising to N4.25 trillion from N3.42 trillion in 2024. Share capital and premium also climbed to N505 billion following a successful rights issue, reinforcing investor confidence in the bank’s long-term strategy.
The Group maintained a strong capital adequacy ratio of 23.2 per cent, providing a solid buffer to support future expansion and lending activities.
Operating in 20 African countries and key international markets including the US, UK, France, and the UAE, UBA’s Pan-African operations continued to drive growth, contributing over 50 per cent of total assets, revenue, and profit.
Regionally, West Africa recorded a 53 per cent increase in profit, while East and Southern Africa posted a 61 per cent growth, highlighting the scalability of the bank’s diversified business model.
Commenting on the results, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, said the bank’s performance reflects the strength of its Pan-African strategy, even amid moderated profitability.
“The 2025 financial year was defined by UBA’s proactive approach to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation requirements. The Group successfully concluded a capital raising programme, which was oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor confidence,” he said.
Alawuba added that the bank raised N395 billion in additional capital, enhancing its capacity to expand lending and support key sectors across its markets. He also highlighted ongoing investments in technology and digital platforms to drive future growth.
Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about 2026, noting that the bank is well-positioned to accelerate growth and expand its risk asset base as macroeconomic conditions improve.
On his part, Executive Director, Finance & Risk Management, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the bank deliberately strengthened its balance sheet to ensure sustainable, high-quality earnings.
He explained that the recognition of potential credit losses and derivative-related adjustments impacted profitability but positioned the bank for future earnings recovery.
“With deliberate steps we have taken to reposition our Nigerian operations, we are well placed to cautiously drive risk asset growth in line with improving macroeconomic conditions,” Nwaghodoh said.
With over 25,000 employees and more than 45 million customers globally, UBA remains one of Africa’s largest financial institutions, continuing to drive financial inclusion and innovation across its markets.
