United Bank for Africa, UBA
United Bank for Africa (UBA) has officially signed an agreement to begin full banking operations in France, marking a significant milestone in the bank’s global expansion efforts.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Thursday, during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to France. The signing ceremony was attended by key dignitaries, including French Finance Minister Antoine Armand, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu.
Elumelu emphasized the importance of the partnership in strengthening international banking connections, particularly between Africa and Europe.
“This partnership reinforces our commitment to providing seamless international banking services, not just across the 11 Francophone African countries we serve, but also to French and European customers engaging with Africa,” Elumelu stated. “Expanding into France is a natural progression, with Paris serving as a strategic hub for our European Union operations. Paris will join London, New York, and Dubai as critical components of our unique global network.”
With this development, UBA becomes one of the first-tier Nigerian banks to establish a banking presence in France, further solidifying its status as a global financial institution.
President Tinubu’s visit, the first official state visit to France by a Nigerian leader in over two decades, seeks to deepen economic and diplomatic ties between the two nations. The French President welcomed Tinubu warmly, even taking to social media to post a greeting in Nigerian Pidgin English, stating, “Na big honour for France to welcome you for dis state visit.”
The event not only highlights UBA’s ambitions to extend its footprint globally but also reflects the broader objectives of strengthening Nigeria’s economic connections with the international community.
