The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has once again demonstrated its enduring commitment to the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and regional trade by headlining the Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) for the seventh consecutive year.
Organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), this year’s edition of the fair—currently underway at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos—will run until next week Monday. The event has drawn thousands of exhibitors, investors, and visitors from across Nigeria and beyond, reaffirming its status as West Africa’s largest trade and investment exhibition.
In line with its customer-centric philosophy, UBA has established a fully operational branch within the trade fair complex, offering visitors access to banking services and an engaging experience. According to a statement from the bank, customers who conduct transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, or transfers at the fairground branch will qualify to participate in a “Lucky Dip” draw with opportunities to win various premium prizes.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, UBA’s Head of SME Banking, Babatunde Ajayi, highlighted the strategic importance of the bank’s long-standing partnership with the LCCI, describing it as a vital component of UBA’s broader mission to empower enterprises and drive economic inclusion.
“Our consistent support for the LITF and our strategic, bank-wide initiatives around the AfCFTA are interconnected,” Ajayi said. “They represent two sides of the same coin—reflecting our deep-seated commitment to building the robust financial architecture required to empower African businesses and enable them to trade seamlessly across borders.”
Ajayi emphasized that the bank’s SME initiatives are designed not only to provide access to capital but also to enhance financial literacy, market expansion, and cross-border trade competitiveness, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
UBA’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, placed the bank’s continued participation in the fair within the broader context of its long-term vision for Africa’s economic transformation.
“Our engagement at the Lagos International Trade Fair aligns with UBA’s overarching mission to stimulate Africa’s growth through enterprise,” Ladipo said. “This is consistent with the vision outlined in our recently published white paper on achieving a $4 trillion continental economy.”
Through sustained support for SMEs and creative trade initiatives, UBA continues to position itself as a key enabler of African business growth, leveraging innovation, partnerships, and regional integration to drive prosperity across the continent.