Roosevelt Ogbonna Charts “Global Africa” Banking Vision at Bloomberg Africa Summit

Roosevelt Ogbonna Charts “Global Africa” Banking Vision at Bloomberg Africa Summit

At the Bloomberg Africa Business Summit, leading financial executives explored one of the most pressing questions shaping the continent’s future: how Africa can sustainably finance its own growth amid a shifting global economy. Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank, delivered a compelling roadmap, outlining what banking must evolve into in an era he describes as “Global Africa.”

Addressing an audience of international investors, policymakers, and private sector leaders, Ogbonna underscored the resilience of African economies despite geopolitical headwinds. He pointed to Nigeria’s recent Eurobond issuance—oversubscribed multiple times—as evidence that global investors are responsive to markets driven by meaningful reforms and credible governance.

“Markets are more intelligent than the narratives that often surround Africa,” he said, stressing that transparency, disciplined leadership, and sustained policy reforms are sending positive signals to global capital. These conditions, he noted, are laying the groundwork for the continent’s next phase of economic advancement.

Ogbonna, speaking alongside Standard Bank Group CEO Sim Tshabalala and Absa Group CEO Kenny Fihla, called for a shift in how Africa is positioned in the global economy. Rather than acting as a consumer or supplier of raw commodities, he said the continent must leverage its talent, resources, and emerging digital infrastructure to become a global centre of trade, innovation, and production.

For Access Bank, this ambition translates into a commitment to “full-spectrum banking,” providing financial solutions that enable growth at every level—from retail customers and SMEs to large corporates and strategic sectors such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and industrial processing.

He also highlighted a strategic opening for African institutions as many Western banks scale back their operations on the continent. Access Bank’s ongoing expansion across Africa, Ogbonna explained, is rooted in deep local expertise and an understanding of diverse markets that foreign players often lack.

“Our objective goes beyond profitability. It is about catalysing growth, strengthening ecosystems, and driving development across regions and sectors,” he said.

According to Ogbonna, the future of African banking will depend on leaders who maintain global reach while deepening local ownership—engaging with international capital markets while investing in Africa’s infrastructure, talent pipeline, and indigenous enterprises. Addressing the long-standing “perception premium,” which inflates the cost of borrowing for African governments and businesses, will be central to unlocking domestic financing and stimulating intra-continental trade and innovation.

Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence in Africa’s capacity to define its own economic destiny, backed by its rich resources, youth population, and growing community of innovators. What remains, he emphasized, is the leadership and ambition to bring these assets into alignment.

The Bloomberg Africa Business Summit ultimately reinforced a powerful message: Africa’s financial future will not be dictated from outside. It will be shaped by Africans who are willing to lead, invest, and build a future anchored in the principles of a truly “Global Africa.”