Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Oliver Alawuba, has called for intensified efforts to boost intra-African trade, stressing that deeper economic integration across the continent is key to reducing the continent’s vulnerability to global trade disruptions and rising tariff pressures from advanced economies.
Speaking during a high-level engagement on regional trade development, Alawuba highlighted the urgent need for African nations to look inward by leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to expand commerce within the continent. According to him, while Africa continues to grapple with external shocks, including high global tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and currency volatility, there is an untapped opportunity for member states to close ranks and create a unified trade bloc that can drive inclusive economic growth.
Alawuba noted that with over 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding $3.4 trillion, Africa possesses the demographic and economic muscle needed to create a resilient internal market capable of withstanding global headwinds. He pointed out that regional trade currently accounts for less than 20 percent of total African trade volume, a figure he described as underwhelming when compared to intra-regional trade levels in Asia and Europe.
The UBA boss urged policymakers, private sector leaders, and regional institutions to eliminate non-tariff barriers, invest in cross-border infrastructure, and create harmonised trade policies that would foster easier movement of goods, services, and capital across African borders. He reiterated UBA’s commitment to supporting regional trade by offering financial products and advisory services tailored to African businesses, especially SMEs engaged in cross-border operations.
Alawuba also emphasised that enhancing intra-African trade will not only shield economies from the unpredictability of global tariff regimes but also serve as a platform for industrialisation, job creation, and technological innovation. He described AfCFTA as a game-changer and a golden opportunity for African countries to diversify away from commodity dependence and build more value-added export capacity.
United Bank for Africa, which operates in 20 African countries and has a presence in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the UAE, has consistently positioned itself as a key player in driving pan-African economic integration. The bank’s Pan-African outlook, according to Alawuba, aligns with its long-standing vision of facilitating prosperity across the continent.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the impact of trade protectionism in developed markets, which has seen African exporters face steeper tariffs and restricted access to traditional markets. As global economic uncertainties persist, industry stakeholders are increasingly echoing the need for Africa to trade more with itself as a pathway to sustainable development and economic independence.
Alawuba’s call reinforces the message that Africa’s future lies not in dependency, but in unity, strategic collaboration, and bold reforms that prioritise the continent’s collective economic interest.
