E-Financial
Ecobank Raises Record $450m in Nature Bond for Africa’s Biodiversity
Ecobank Group has broken new ground in sustainable finance with the launch of the world’s first International Capital Market Association (ICMA) commercial bank-issued Nature Bond on the London Stock Exchange, raising $450 million to channel capital into biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture and water infrastructure across Africa.
The landmark transaction, which attracted overwhelming investor demand and earned the highest sustainability quality rating from Moody’s, is being hailed as a major milestone in efforts to close Africa’s nature-finance gap and mobilise private capital for environmental resilience.
The bond, which was oversubscribed nearly four times, creates a new mechanism for international and African investors to finance the protection of the continent’s natural capital through the communities, farmers and businesses that depend on it.
Africa hosts 25 percent of global biodiversity and is home to some of the world’s most important ecological assets, including vast tracts of arable land, tropical forests, freshwater ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
Yet despite its ecological significance, the continent attracts less than three percent of global nature finance, according to industry estimates.
Ecobank’s Nature Bond is designed to address this imbalance by directing capital into sectors where environmental outcomes and economic livelihoods are deeply interconnected.
Unlike traditional conservation financing vehicles that often focus on protected areas and environmental projects, the Nature Bond channels funding directly into the real economy.
The proceeds will support smallholder farmers adopting sustainable agricultural practices, agribusinesses operating verified deforestation-free supply chains, and water infrastructure projects that safeguard freshwater ecosystems relied upon by millions of people.
The initiative will span 24 African markets, with significant deployment planned in biodiversity-priority countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Ghana.
According to Ecobank, 81 percent of the eligible lending portfolio will be directed to countries where agricultural land-use change remains the primary driver of biodiversity loss. This approach is intended to ensure that financing reaches areas where environmental intervention can generate the greatest impact.
Nature Bonds represent one of the newest categories within sustainable finance.
Under ICMA’s nature bond framework, proceeds must be used specifically to support nature-positive outcomes, including biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, land restoration and water ecosystem protection.
The designation differs from conventional green bonds, which often support a broader range of environmental objectives.
By contrast, Nature Bonds are designed to target activities directly linked to preserving and restoring natural ecosystems.
For Ecobank, the transaction represents the culmination of several years of investment in sustainability governance, environmental risk management and impact measurement frameworks.
The bank said every eligible loan financed through the bond will be subject to seven independently verified sustainability conditions, supported by monitoring systems that include deforestation screening, supply-chain traceability requirements and ongoing environmental performance assessments.
These safeguards were instrumental in securing Moody’s highest possible Sustainability Quality Score (SQS1 Excellent), providing investors with confidence that the proceeds will generate measurable environmental outcomes.
The $450 million issuance attracted orders worth more than $1.36 billion, representing 3.9 times the original target size.
The strong demand enabled Ecobank to increase the deal size by $100 million while simultaneously tightening pricing by 50 basis points, a rare achievement in sustainable finance markets and a reflection of growing investor interest in credible nature-based investment opportunities.
The transaction drew participation from both African and international institutional investors, underscoring Ecobank’s unique position as a pan-African financial institution capable of bridging global capital markets with local development priorities.
Jeremy Awori, group chief executive officer of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, described the transaction as a defining moment not only for the bank but also for Africa’s sustainable finance landscape.
“This transaction is a defining moment for African sustainable finance. Investors did not just support this bond. They demanded more of it, allowing us to increase the size and tighten pricing,” Awori said.
He noted that Ecobank had spent four years building the governance systems, accountability structures and operational frameworks required to make nature finance both credible and scalable across African markets.
“We are not a bank that simply labels bonds,” he said. “This bond is ultimately about the farmers, cooperatives and communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy ecosystems.”
Rachael Antwi, Ecobank’s group head of sustainability and environmental and social risk management, said the future of nature finance on the continent would depend on practical models that connect environmental objectives with real economic activity.
“Nature finance will only scale in Africa if it is practical, measurable and connected to the real economy. This bond is designed to do that by linking international capital to eligible lending for sustainable agriculture and water infrastructure across 24 countries,” she added.
Antwi added that the framework reflects the systems and standards Ecobank has developed to ensure environmental sustainability and economic development can advance together.
The launch is expected to strengthen Africa’s position within the rapidly expanding global sustainable finance market, which is increasingly looking beyond climate mitigation to address biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
When people and businesses gain genuine access to financial services, they gain the ability to transact securely, build savings, and access credit. That access creates the conditions for progress: more stable revenues, better business decisions, and the capacity to grow. Progress, sustained over time, is what produces financial happiness. This framework is how Moniepoint measures its impact.
According to Moniepoint 2025 Impact Report, titled creating financial happiness; “Financial happiness is the feeling of confidence and ease that comes with financial freedom and well-being. It is a condition that develops over time and requires a specific set of enablers to take hold.
For millions of people and businesses across Nigeria, those enablers, like tools and solutions to manage their finances, have historically been out of reach. Moniepoint was built to change that, and this change, for us, begins with inclusion”.
Across the world, access to digital tools is a key driver of financial inclusion. The World Bank’s Global Findex 2025 report finds that more than 60% of adults in low- and middle income economies now make or receive digital payments. In Nigeria, this figure is around 54%. Moniepoint has been a key driver in expanding this access with its POS terminals. “Our terminals also drive financial inclusion for individuals.
The report stated that, in 2025, Moniepoint enabled 100 million people to make payments via their POS terminals across the country. For customers in communities where bank branches are scarce or non-existent, a Moniepoint terminal at their local shop, market stall, or fuel station provides reliable access to digital financial services.
They can make purchases, withdraw cash, and manage their money without travelling long distances or depending solely on physical currency. Critically, customers without cards can complete transactions through direct bank transfers to the terminal’s account.
Beyond practical benefits, Moniepoint terminals have also introduced a new layer of trust to everyday commerce. “When network issues make it unclear if a payment went through, the Moniepoint terminal’s loud beep provides instant confirmation for everyone, building trust in digital payments with every transaction”.
Moniepoint POS terminals operate across all 774 local governments in Nigeria, ensuring that small sellers and large stores can accept payments reliably, regardless of location.
In 2025, millions of Nigerians, businesses and individuals alike, accessed Moniepoint services through its mobile app. Top among them are groups like women and low-income earners, who have historically been excluded from formal banking. Inclusion of women is particularly important, as they typically manage household spending and informal savings but are frequently left out of structured financial systems. “Through our app, they are gaining financial independence and greater control over their economic decisions,” the report added.
For millions of Nigerians, debit cards represent a move away from the limits of cash transactions. They enable safer, more reliable everyday payments, particularly as more local businesses begin to accept digital payments.
Moniepoint debit cards are designed to meet this need. In 2025, Moniepoint customers completed over 300 million card transactions at physical locations, largely driven by essential, food-related purchases. Most of this spending took place at neighbourhood provision shops where households buy everyday items such as rice, cooking oil, and soap.
“We’ve made access to our cards intentionally simple. Customers can get a Moniepoint debit card by requesting it within their mobile app or from neighbourhood agents, without lengthy paperwork or waiting periods. By lowering these barriers, more people are able to access financial tools and participate in the formal financial system.
“Our cards also safeguard our customers’ financial information. They don’t carry special markings or any identifiers that could expose our customers or put their financial security at risk. In the event of loss, this reduces the likelihood of targeted fraud or misuse.
“When people can pay with their debit cards at their neighbourhood stores, they can manage their spending, reduce cash handling, and transact more securely. Merchants also benefit, recording higher transaction volumes and more consistent customer activity.
“Moniepoint helps millions of businesses and individuals across Nigeria access seamless payments and banking, every day. The widespread adoption of our tools and services, as highlighted, demonstrates our critical role in expanding financial access, supporting everyday commerce, and enabling more Nigerians to participate safely and consistently in the digital economy,” the report noted.
ChatPay has launched Africa’s conversational banking platform, enabling individuals and businesses to access financial services through WhatsApp.
The Lagos-based fintech startup, is in controlled rollout, connecting WhatsApp to linked-bank management, airtime and supported electricity payments through simple conversations.
The company said the platform is designed to enable users to send money, pay bills, buy airtime and manage business transactions within WhatsApp conversations, subject to the completion of regulatory approvals and integration with licensed banking partners.
According to ChatPay, the platform is operated by CP Technology Limited and is currently undergoing a phased rollout ahead of its planned public launch.
The company said the initiative is intended to simplify access to financial services by leveraging WhatsApp, which it estimates is used by more than 50 million Nigerians monthly.
Speaking on the idea behind the platform, Adeoluwasubomi Odebunmi, product lead and co-founder, said the concept emerged while she was studying Software Engineering at Babcock University.
“I saw the gap while I was still in school—how much friction there was just to move money. I didn’t want to just study the problem. I wanted to help fix it,” she said.
Odebunmi said she had previously worked on software solutions spanning e-commerce, real estate management, school administration and artificial intelligence applications before co-founding ChatPay.
Aseoluwa Siyanbola, growth lead and co-founder, said his experience managing Nigerian bank accounts while studying abroad highlighted some of the challenges users face with digital banking services.
According to him, difficulties such as one-time password (OTP) failures and inconsistent banking applications inspired the team to explore conversational banking solutions.
“We each encountered similar challenges and came together to build a solution that simplifies everyday financial transactions,” he said.
cAbraham William, tech lead and co-founder, said the company is focused on improving access to financial services through a platform that many Nigerians already use daily.
“We want to make financial services easier to access by allowing people to carry out transactions through a familiar messaging platform,” he said.
William said he oversees the company’s engineering, technology strategy and system architecture.
ChatPay said its services will be introduced in phases as regulatory requirements are met and integrations with banking partners are completed.
The company added that its newly launched “Founding 2,500” programme will enable selected early users to test features, provide feedback and participate in product development before the platform’s wider rollout.
According to the company, interested users can register for the waitlist and the Founding 2,500 programme through its website.
Founded by Odebunmi, Siyanbola and William, ChatPay said its long-term goal is to expand conversational banking services beyond Nigeria into other African markets after its domestic rollout.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has been named Nigeria’s Best Bank for Retail Banking and Best Bank for Sustainability Leadership (ESG) at the 2026 Euromoney Awards for Excellence, reinforcing its position as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions.
The awards were presented on July 17 at The Peninsula London in the United Kingdom, recognising financial institutions that have demonstrated outstanding performance, innovation, customer impact and sustainable banking practices.
The double recognition highlights UBA’s growing influence in retail banking and its commitment to advancing environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles across its operations.
According to Euromoney, UBA distinguished itself through a series of sustainability initiatives, including the introduction of a Green Financing Facility designed to support households and businesses transitioning to renewable energy.
The publication also cited the bank’s ₦5 billion financing programme, implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI), to provide funding for women-owned businesses.
Euromoney further recognised UBA’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, describing it as a demonstration of the bank’s long-term sustainability strategy.
The publication also highlighted the bank’s efforts to integrate sustainability into its operations through the deployment of solar-powered energy solutions across 50 branches and comprehensive ESG capacity-building programmes that have trained more than 16,000 employees across the UBA Group.
In the retail banking category, Euromoney noted that UBA continued to consolidate its position as one of Africa’s largest retail banking institutions.
According to the publication, the bank expanded its customer base to more than 37 million by the end of 2025, while retail banking revenue increased more than fourfold to ₦429.5 billion.
The awards also recognised UBA’s continued investment in digital banking innovation, particularly enhancements to its artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, LEO.
Euromoney noted that LEO became Africa’s first AI-powered banking platform to facilitate cross-border money transfers in local currencies through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
Commenting on the awards, UBA’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oliver Alawuba, described the recognition as a validation of the bank’s commitment to delivering value to customers while promoting sustainable development across Africa.
“To be recognised as Nigeria’s Best Bank for both ESG and Retail Banking in the same year sends a powerful message that sustainable banking and commercial success are mutually reinforcing.
“At UBA, we are committed to financing Africa’s future, supporting businesses and communities, promoting financial inclusion, and delivering innovative banking solutions that improve lives.
“These awards belong to our customers for their confidence in us and to every member of the UBA family whose dedication continues to make our vision a reality,” he said.
Also speaking, UBA’s Group Head, Marketing, Brand and Corporate Communications, Mrs Alero Ladipo, said the awards reflected the bank’s unwavering commitment to putting customers at the centre of its operations.
According to her, every innovation, investment and banking solution introduced by UBA is aimed at creating exceptional value for customers while expanding access to financial services.
“These awards are a powerful affirmation of our Customer First philosophy.
“Whether it is supporting entrepreneurs with access to finance, enabling seamless digital payments, advancing clean energy financing or expanding financial inclusion across Africa, UBA remains focused on delivering meaningful impact.
“We are honoured that one of the world’s most respected financial publications has recognised these efforts,” she said.
UBA currently operates in 20 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, United States, France and the United Arab Emirates, serving more than 45 million customers through a combination of digital banking platforms and physical branch networks.
The bank said it remains committed to strengthening financial inclusion, driving innovation and supporting sustainable economic development across Africa and beyond.
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