By Ginika Okoye
United Capital, a Pan-African investment bank and financial services group, has grown its revenue to N58.6 billion in the 2025 financial year.
The growth represented a growth of 35 per cent when compared with N43.43 billion achieved in the corresponding period of 2024.
The company also grew its profit after tax during the period to N28.15 billion from N24.10 billion posted in 2024.
The company said the growth was driven by a 176 per cent surge in net trading income and a 59 per cent rise in fees and commission income.
Speaking at the 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday in Abuja, the Chairman of United Capital Plc, Mr Uche Ike, said the company’s profit before tax accelerated by 37 per cent year on year to N41.18 billion from N30.10 billion recorded in 2024.
Ike said the total assets of the group increased by four per cent year-on -year from N1.70 trillion to N1.76 trillion.
He said the growth was driven majorly by growth in investments in securities which accounted for 76 per cent of the group’s total assets.
The chairman said that shareholders’ funds increased by 12 per cent from N133.50 billion to N150 billion.
Ike said that the group’s Return on Average Equity for the 2025 financial year stood at 20 per cent, signifying strong value creation for shareholders.
Also speaking at the AGM, Mr Peter Ashade, the Group Chief Executive Officer of United Capital Group, said that 2025 was a defining year for the company.
Ashade said that in line with the group’s commitment to shareholders’ value, the Board of Directors approved a final dividend of 70k per share, bringing the total dividend for the 2025 financial year to N1 per share, amounting to N18 billion.
He said the figure represented a 25 per cent increase when compared with N14.4 billion distributed to shareholders in 2024.
Ashade said the development signalled the group’s confidence in the sustainability of its earnings and its dedication to consistent wealth distribution.
“In a challenging macroeconomic environment, we grew revenue by a third, returned every single subsidiary to profit, and strengthened our capital base.
”These results are not accidental, they reflect years of deliberate choices around people, products and discipline.
”The performance is particularly notable given the macroeconomic headwinds that characterised Nigeria’s financial services sector in 2025, including elevated interest rates, currency volatility, and evolving regulatory requirements.
”We enter 2026 with strong momentum and a clear ambition to continue to build a financial services group that can deploy, manage and utilise capital in a manner that empowers Africans everywhere,” he said.
Some shareholders who spoke during the meeting commended the group for the growth recorded.
They appealed to the team to ensure improved women participation in the board.
The Chairman of Trusted Shareholder Association, Alhaji Mukhtar Mukhtar, commended the management of the group for value and sustainable growth recorded over the years.
He said the growth over the years reflected the commitment of the team toward achieving their goals and improving the lives of shareholders.
Mr Uche Jibuno, representing Youth Alliance Shareholders Association, urged the group to facilitate efforts towards combating cybercrimes.
The National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Moses Igbrude, commended the commitment of the group and appealed for continued efforts towards raising more money through rights for more dividends.
Mrs Bisi Bakare, the National Coordinator, Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, commended the company for enhanced growth and persistent payment of dividends over the years.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting had the theme: ‘undaunted’. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
