Major African banks are stepping up efforts to boost their capital bases in a bid to channel more financing into productive investments across the continent. Executives from Access Holdings and Ecobank say that although Africa has significant funds available, too much of it is tied up in government securities instead of supporting business growth.
Access Holdings Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede highlighted that an estimated $4 trillion in sovereign and private capital exists across Africa, yet only a small share is deployed into sectors that can drive economic transformation. He stressed the need to redirect more domestic capital toward industries like manufacturing, infrastructure, and SMEs.
Ecobank Group CEO Jeremy Awori echoed this view, calling for greater participation from pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional investors to strengthen banks’ balance sheets. With stronger capital, African banks would be better positioned to expand lending to businesses and accelerate economic development.
Awori noted that limited investment products, shallow capital markets, and low levels of intra-African trade continue to hinder the creation of sustainable investment pathways. He emphasized that policy reforms will be crucial to unlocking long-term growth.
Access Holdings, which owns Nigeria’s largest bank, recently expanded its presence in East Africa through its acquisition of the National Bank of Kenya from KCB Group — a move expected to increase its regional influence.
As African banks shift their strategy toward growth-focused investment, the push to mobilize domestic capital could reshape financing opportunities across the continent, particularly for SMEs and high-impact sectors seeking funding.
