Chartered Institute of Bankers Nigeria Bestows Highest Honor on Oliver Alawuba

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming a member of the prestigious Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF). This recognition places UBA as the sole financial institution representing West Africa among the 14 members of the global core team, which encompasses various regions.

The selection process for this coveted position was highly competitive, drawing the participation of more than 50 well-qualified candidates from the PCAF signatory community. UBA’s successful admission underscores the bank’s unwavering commitment to sustainable finance. As a core team member, UBA will actively contribute to the development of international accounting standards within the financial industry.

Ace Robinson, the Chief Executive Officer of PCAF, praised UBA and the other newly inducted core team members for their exceptional dedication to the cause. He specifically highlighted that UBA’s presence as the only bank from West Africa on the global core team demonstrates the bank’s alignment with PCAF standards. Robinson emphasized UBA’s standout performance during a rigorous application process, reflecting its leadership in promoting the Carbon Accounting agenda.

Chidozie Ezike, UBA’s Head of Sustainability, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as a PCAF member. He underscored UBA’s commitment to inclusivity, social responsibility, decarbonization, responsible business practices, and robust governance. Sustainability holds a strategic focus within UBA, serving as a driving force for creating economic, social, and environmental value throughout the bank and its entire value chain. Ezike emphasized UBA’s role as a purpose-driven organization dedicated to the long-term well-being of Africa, placing social, economic, and environmental value on par with financial results.

With UBA’s inclusion in the PCAF global core team, the bank is poised to deepen its engagement with PCAF standards. This collaboration will contribute to greater international consistency and comparability of financed emission accounting, advancing the bank’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

The new members of PCAF’s Global Core Team include:

1. Chidozie Ezike (Nigeria) – UBA
2. Emily Rodgers (US) – EIG
3. Frida Panayi (Australia) – Metrics Credit Partners
4. Giel Linthorst (Netherlands) – ING
5. Hetal Patel (UK) – Phoenix Group
6. Jamie Mattison (US) – Morgan Stanley
7. Maren Bodenschatz (Switzerland) – Swiss Re
8. Melanie Janse van Vuuren (South Africa and UK) – Investec
9. Rafael Martins de Oliveira (Brazil) – Itau Unibanco
10. Ryan Greenwald (US) – PIMCO
11. Sharad Tuladhar (Nepal) – NMB Bank
12. Sharna Bourke (Australia) – Commonwealth Bank of Australia
13. Stefan Henningsson (Finland) – Nordea
14. Yu Takita (Japan) – Mizuho Financial Group

The group is chaired by Hetal Patel, Head of Climate Investment Risk at Phoenix Group, a leading UK-based financial services provider.

UBA is a prominent pan-African financial institution, serving over 37 million customers through a network of 1,000 business offices and customer touchpoints across 20 African countries. With a global presence in New York, London, Paris, the Cayman Islands, and now the UAE, UBA is committed to connecting people and businesses across Africa through its diverse banking services, including retail, commercial, and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance, and ancillary banking services. UBA’s participation in PCAF underscores its dedication to environmental sustainability and responsible finance, aligning with its broader mission to drive social and economic progress in Africa and beyond.