UBA CEO Oliver Alawuba urges South-East leaders to prioritise peace, infrastructure, and bankable projects to achieve South-East Vision 2050 goals

Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has called on leaders and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s South-East to prioritise peace, security, infrastructure development, and delivery of investment-ready projects to advance the South-East Vision 2050 (S8V2050).

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Alawuba delivered the remarks during the South-East Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholder Forum, held at the International Conference Centre in Enugu on Wednesday.

The multi-day forum, convened by the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, the Ministry of Regional Development, and the South-East state governments, seeks to build consensus on a shared development pathway and implement actionable interventions aligned with national priorities.

Highlighting peace and security as the most urgent requirements for attracting investors, Alawuba stated, “The first thing the South-East needs is peace.

It is an established fact, world over, that investments flow in the direction of safety.”

He urged state governments and regional leaders to sustain coordinated efforts to protect lives, assets, and infrastructure.

Alawuba also stressed the need for a results-driven partnership between government and the private sector, emphasising that the success of South-East Vision 2050 depends on clearly articulated, bankable projects capable of unlocking long-term capital. “Vision alone is not enough.

The South-East must present specific, measurable projects that create jobs and deliver real improvements in the lives of our people,” he added.

The forum convened prominent government officials, including Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, governors of Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu states, legislators, Royal Fathers, members of the clergy, captains of industry, and development partners.

Commending progress made in infrastructure, Alawuba noted the importance of continued improvements in reliable power, motorable roads, rail, water, and connectivity to remove bottlenecks that limit productivity and competitiveness.

He also highlighted the role of private-sector investment and diaspora capital in driving inclusive growth.

“Capital will always respond to predictability, ease of doing business, and confidence.

If we get the fundamentals right, Corporate Nigeria and the banking industry will rally round to finance viable projects, support SMEs, create jobs for our youth, and mobilize long-term capital to make South-East Vision 2050 a reality,” he said.

Alawuba reaffirmed UBA’s readiness to partner with the SEDC and South-East state governments to strengthen the Vision 2050 framework through private-sector participation and long-term capital mobilisation.

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UBA is one of the largest employers in Africa’s financial sector, with 25,000 employees serving over 45 million customers across twenty African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates.