By By Elizabeth Ugbo
United Bank for Africa (UBA) introduced a new diaspora healthcare investment platform at the 2026 ANPA Carolinas Symposium in Charlotte, North Carolina, to mobilise Nigerian diaspora capital into healthcare development in Nigeria. Speaking to more than 170 Nigerian-American physicians and healthcare professionals, UBA’s Head of Diaspora Banking, Anant Rao, explained how the initiative will support specialist hospitals, diagnostic centres, telemedicine infrastructure, and medical training institutions. The initiative aims to move diaspora participation beyond remittances and toward sustainable institutional investment.
UBA Strengthens Diaspora Engagement Through Healthcare Investment
The 2026 ANPA Carolinas Symposium marked another step in UBA’s strategy to deepen relationships with Nigerians living abroad.
The annual event, organised by the South Carolina and North Carolina Chapters of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), brought together healthcare professionals for medical and scientific discussions affecting communities across North America, the Caribbean, and Africa.
During his presentation, Rao urged diaspora professionals to adopt long-term investment approaches that support Nigeria’s healthcare transformation.
He noted that financial systems connecting diaspora success to structured healthcare investment opportunities had not received deliberate attention until now.
ANPA–UBA Diaspora Healthcare Investment Platform Targets Sector Growth
Rao introduced the ANPA–UBA Diaspora Healthcare Investment Platform, a professionally managed investment vehicle designed to direct diaspora capital into critical healthcare projects.
The platform will finance:
- Specialist hospitals
- Diagnostic centres
- Telemedicine infrastructure
- Medical education and training institutions
According to Rao, the structure aims to generate financial returns while supporting healthcare expansion in Nigeria.
He stated that the regulatory environment, banking systems, governance framework, and institutional support now provide a foundation for diaspora healthcare investment.
UBA and United Capital to Drive Fund Management
Under the proposed framework, UBA will serve as custodian and structuring bank.
Meanwhile, United Capital Asset Management will manage the investment fund. The asset manager currently oversees more than ₦1.2 trillion in assets under management.
This arrangement seeks to provide transparency, professional oversight, and long-term sustainability.
Proposed UBA–ANPA Partnership Built on Six Strategic Pillars
To strengthen engagement with Nigerian-American healthcare professionals, Rao proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UBA and the ANPA chapters.
The proposed collaboration focuses on six areas:
- Preferred banking solutions for ANPA members
- Quarterly financial education programmes
- Joint Healthcare Infrastructure Fund
- Dedicated ANPA Wealth and Legacy Desk
- Group-rate family healthcare plans through Avon HMO
- UBA co-matching support for eligible impact vehicles under the Pearl Endowment Fund
Expanding UBA’s Diaspora Value Proposition
UBA also highlighted its existing diaspora-focused offerings.
These include:
- Non-Resident Nigerian (NRN) accounts in multiple currencies
- Fixed-income and dollar investment products through United Capital
- Homeland Anchor Care Trust elder-care solutions with Avon HMO
- Private wealth management services for senior diaspora professionals
The bank said these initiatives align with its broader goal of connecting diaspora capital to long-term development opportunities in Nigeria’s healthcare and infrastructure sectors.
