Good evening Distinguished Guests,
It is a great honour to be here, in beautiful Abidjan this evening, celebrating this significant milestone—the launch of United Capital’s West African office.
It is an honour – and a pleasure – to be in front of so many “amis ivoriens” “Ivorian friends”.
Côte d’Ivoire has provided us with a wonderful welcome – as a regional trade and finance hub, Abidjan is a natural and important location to be present. I thank the president of the Republic, our regulators and policy makers for assisting us in our journey.
As Chairman of Heirs Holdings Group, I have had the privilege of witnessing, first-hand, the incredible transformation of Africa and how United Capital Group has played its part. What began many years ago as a single division in the UBA Group has today become a continental financial powerhouse.
With this new milestone, United Capital Group has become a fully pan-African financial institution.
Allow me to share a few reasons why this milestone is not only significant for our Group, but for the African continent:
I constantly speak about private-sector-led transformation, Africapitalism – on global platforms and its role in turbocharging our economy. I often say that Africa’s growth and development will not be handed to us. It is our responsibility, our mandate, our mission as Africans to build it ourselves.
Today’s launching of United Capital Asset Management West Africa Limited demonstrates this commitment.
This brings the subsidiaries within United Capital Group to eight companies – an astonishing growth!
With this latest addition, United Capital becomes the first Nigerian investment management group to be licensed by the Financial Markets Authority of West African Economic & Monetary Union (AMF-UMOA).
In addition, this licence allows us to conduct Investment Management business across eight countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte D’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo, in the WAEMU Zone under the Financial Market Regulatory laws.
It symblises our commitment to driving transformation across Africa, creating African financial champions, that are both open to the world, but also guarantee that Africa has her own sovereign institutions, capable of ensuring that the development of Africa is led by Africans for Africans.
We are committed to the highest global standards, and ensuring that African institutions can compete with the best globally.
It is truly intentional that we are opening an asst management business. Africa needs to mobilise her own savings, her own capital, to address the infrastructure and financing needs of our continent. Institutionalising that process is a critical foundation of our continent’s future success.
Truly, United Capital’s consistent growth, and now, this bold expansion, perfectly reflects the Heirs Holdings Group culture – our relentless drive for enterprise, our commitment to excellence, and our laser-focus on execution; one that cuts across our investment portfolio spanning over 23 thriving companies.
At Heirs Holdings, we invest with foresight. We see opportunities where others hesitate. We believe in Africa, and we believe in Africans.
With operations spanning asset management, securities trading, investment banking, consumer finance, a microfinance bank, and more, United Capital is proof that when you apply long-term thinking, disciplined execution, and a strong sense of purpose, you create not just wealth, but impact.
It is a story of Africapitalism in action. And a story of African success.
I extend hearty congratulations to the Group CEO, United Capital Plc, Peter Ashade, and the entire team.
I also welcome the incoming MD/CEO, Labas Bamba, who will oversee this new mandate, and his new team.
I thank Côte d’Ivoire and the Ivorian people for their welcome.
This is only the beginning.
Thank you.
TOE
