United Bank for Africa (UBA) has reaffirmed its commitment to Africa's sustainable development, with a particular focus on youth and agricultural transformation, during the 49th Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which began on 10 February 2026 in Rome.
With around 55% of Africa's population living in rural areas, agriculture remains a strategic pillar for food security, job creation and inclusive economic growth across the continent. In this context, UBA recognises that Africa cannot be developed without energy or without food, and that empowering young people is essential to meeting these challenges.
During the session, Tony Elumelu, Chairman of UBA Group and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), addressed numerous global leaders, reinforcing a clear message: young Africans are not waiting for handouts, they are building Africa's future.
Tony Elumelu will take part in the keynote dialogue, a fireside chat entitled “Young Entrepreneurs at the Heart of Transformation: From Vision to Impact”, alongside the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Álvaro Lario, in a conversation moderated by Melissa Bell of CNN.
Agricultural transformation and youth empowerment have been central areas of the impact of the UBA ecosystem, through the Tony Elumelu Foundation:
• 21% (5,653) of the entrepreneurs supported by the TEF operate in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors;
• These entrepreneurs have created 428,490 direct and indirect jobs, strengthening agricultural value chains and rural livelihoods;
• Agriculture accounts for around one third of all jobs generated by TEF-supported businesses over the past decade;
• 55% of the agricultural entrepreneurs supported are women, underlining the critical role of female leadership in food security, household income and community resilience.
Strategic partnerships with institutions such as the UNDP, the European Union, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the OACPS, BMZ and GIZ have made it possible to scale up this impact, reach underserved communities and mobilise funding, knowledge and access to markets.
A track record of sustainable impact
The UBA Group's commitment to African agriculture is backed by concrete action. The TEF's support model goes beyond funding, combining non-repayable seed capital, world-class business training through the TEFConnect platform, structured mentoring and access to strategic networks, creating real conditions for the sustainability of agricultural businesses.
The significance of UBA's involvement in global forums
UBA's participation, through the leadership of its Chairman, in global platforms such as IFAD reinforces the Group's international recognition as a catalyst for African development, committed to African-led solutions to African challenges.
In a context in which, by 2030, some 440 million young Africans will enter the labour market, UBA continues to position itself as a strategic partner in financing sectors that create jobs, drive innovation and promote inclusive prosperity.
This commitment reflects UBA's vision as Africa’s Global Bank: supporting initiatives that transform economies, empower young people and build a sustainable future for Africa and the world.
