By Stephen Ubanna
In spite of the gradual collapse of the nation’s economy, the United Bank of African, UBA, popular, Pan African, African Bank, had sustained its impressive growth rate in the third quarter which ended on September 30, started in the first quarter of 2025, beating other competitors to it.
It would be recalled that in the first two quarters of this 2025, fiscal year, why other banks are barely managing to remain float to sustain their operations in Nigeria and other offshore opeations, UBA, described as one of the strongest banks in the West and Central African subregions, with over 45 million Customers, gross earnings was said to have grown by 3%, to about N2.5 trn, up from the about N2.4 trn recorded within the same period in 2024 .
There is no gain saying the fact that the net interest income of the Pan African bank which had stood at N1.103 trn at the end of the third quarter of 2024, rose by 6.2% to N1.172 trn in the third quarter of 2025, fueling speculations making the rounds that the net interest income performance would be much higher in this last quarter of the bank’s operations this year.
Going by the bank’s third quarter of 2025, audited financial reports filed with the Nigeria Exchange Limited, NGX, which shows very impressive performance, may have given the Olver Alawuba, the Group Managing Director, GMD, and his Management Team, a cause ‘’to cheer’’.
Although, snippets from the bank’s audited results for the third quarter, which ended September 30, 2025, filed with the NGX, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, clearly shows that its Profit Before Tax, PBT, had dropped slightly by 4.1%, to N578,58 billion compared to the N603.48 billion, achieved in at the end of the third quarter of 2024, it did not affect its Profit After Tax, PAT, reports.
The bank’s PAT, was said to have grown by 2.3% from N525 billion recorded at the end of September 30, 2024 to N538.53 billion in the third quarter of 2025. Speaking in his capacity as the Pan African bank GMD, Alawuba, had said that the PAT, recorded in the third quarter of 2025, continues ‘’to reflect its consistent earnings momentum and its commitment to sustainable growth rate, with strength in Nigeria, African network and global presence, amidst persistent macroeconomic headwinds’’.
Many believes that the bank’s improved retail, commercial and institutional services coupled with its strong financial inclusion records as well as implementing its cutting -edge technology, in Nigeria and the offshore ranches in 20 other African countries , including the United Kingdom, UK, the American country of the United States, US, France and the United Arabs Emirate, UAE, may have informed why the bank has maintained a strong ‘’Balance Sheet’’. With total assets rising to N39.323 trn, representing a 7.2%, increase over the N3.323, trn, recorded at the end of Dember 31, 2024.
The bank was said to have also shown its impressive records in its operational performance as its total deposits from Customers, from the global financial markets rose by 7.7% from N24.651 trillion at the end of December 31, 2024, to N26.54 trn, as at the end of September 31, 2025.
More kudos for the UBA was the fact that the shareholder’s funds remain very strong at N4.301 billion rising by 25.8% from N3.418 trn, recorded in Dember, 2024, again reflecting ‘’the bank’s strong capacity for internal capital generation and growth level’’.
An elated Alawuba, the UBA, GMD, who could not hide his feelings was said to have assured shareholders, depositors and other Customers, , both within Nigeria and other African countries including other depositors and other customers of the bank in Uk, US, France and UAE, that with the impressive track records had been recorded in the first nine months of 2025, particular, the third quarter, the bank would continue’ ’to demonstrate the strength, resilience and diversification of its business in a dynamic operating environment to remain ahead of its competitors’’.
HE was emphatic that the bank has delivered ‘’solid performance supported by prudent balance sheet management, innovation, and well-diversified earnings base across all the country’s financial markets’’. He did not stop there.
Updating shareholders and investors, on its recent recapitalization efforts, Alawuba, the UBA, GMD, had reported that the bank, under his Leadership, had made significant progress in its capital raising as part of the mandated industry -wide recapitalization exercise with the successful completion of ‘’the final phase of the Rights Issue’’.
He noted that the completion of the phase II of the Rights Issue has strengthened the bank’s capital base and will support the continued, prudent expansion of its operations across its markets, further showing’’ its unwavering focus on disciplined execution and strategic growth, ensuring the delivery of sustainable returns and long term-value to all shareholders’’.
Ugo Nwaghodoh, speaking in his capacity as the bank’s Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management, was said to have pointed out that the Group, had repeatedly delivered over the years ‘’steady growth in earnings, with Gross earnings rising to N2.47 trn, driven by a 0.1% increase in interest income and 6.2% uplift in net interest income’’.
He was said to have alluded to the fact that the bank total assets grew by 7% to N32.5 trn, ‘’supported by focused deposit mobilization and increased investment in earning assets’’. He had asserted that the shareholders funds of the bank that had increased to N4.3 trn or 26%, in the third quarter of 2025, underscored the continued confidence of investors in ‘’the Group’s strategy, while capital adequacy and liquidity ratios remain well above regulatory thresholds and provide significant buffers to support continued growth’’.
Te UBA Executive Director, may have gladdened the heart of shareholders at their recent meeting in Abuja, the Federal Caital Territory, FCT, he when he spoke about the significant efforts that had been made by the bank ‘’ to consolidate its efforts in the remaining months of the 2025, financial year and beyond’’, stating that the Management team, ‘’ remained focused on sustaining profitability, expanding its digital income streams and delivering -long -term value to the shareholders’’.
