Aigboje Aig‑Imoukhuede, the chairman of Access Holdings Plc, warned that Africa’s economic growth will remain constrained unless banks move beyond a focus on profitability and financial stability to actively finance businesses, infrastructure and job creation.
In a statement that underscored the need for a more proactive banking sector, Aig‑Imoukhuede urged African banks to broaden their mandate and provide the capital that underpins new enterprises and large‑scale development projects.
The call comes amid concerns that many banks in the continent continue to prioritise risk management and balance‑sheet health over lending, limiting the flow of investment into key growth sectors.
By financing businesses and infrastructure, Aig‑Imoukhuede said, banks could unlock the potential for increased employment and economic dynamism across the region.
The chairman’s remarks were published by Punch Nigeria, which highlighted the urgency of a shift in banking strategy to support sustainable growth on the continent.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>