Lagos: UBA Foundation’s boost for safety through giving

Last December, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation made a statement that went far beyond a ceremonial cheque. With ₦500 million donated to the Lagos State Government to bolster the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSTF), the Foundation was making a declaration of intent. For UBA, the gesture was not just about corporate citizenship but about safeguarding the marketplace in which it thrives and protecting the communities that give it life.

The LSTF itself is a product of necessity. Created nearly two decades ago, it was designed to mobilize resources for patrol vehicles, communication equipment, protective gear and training for operatives of both federal and state agencies working in the metropolis. It grew from the recognition that the federal purse was chronically underfunded and often unresponsive and that Lagos could not afford to leave security entirely to the Federal Government.

The Fund invited companies and wealthy individuals to share the burden of keeping Africa’s busiest city safe. Analysts have consistently described this public–private model as one of Lagos’s most pragmatic innovations. While it has not been without flaws, it has proved effective in convening stakeholders, pooling funds and responding to emergencies with a speed that government bureaucracy alone could not achieve.

The results are visible. In December 2024, the state government unveiled 260 new patrol vehicles, fitted with communications gear and supporting hardware, and deployed them across high-risk areas of the city during the festive season. It was not a symbolic rollout but a calculated effort to flood the streets at a time when crime typically spikes. UBA Foundation’s ₦500 million donation entered that same operational ecosystem, strengthening a structure that thrives on partnerships and quick deployment.

To the UBA leadership, the donation was both stewardship and strategy. Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony, UBA Chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu, emphasised that the bank’s interest went beyond corporate branding. “At UBA, we understand that security is critical for economic growth and societal well-being. Our donation to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund is a reflection of the bank’s belief in building safer communities to enhance the quality of life for all. We are proud to partner with the Lagos State Government to achieve this shared vision of a secure environment conducive to investment and development,” he said. The governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, received the cheque with words of praise for UBA’s consistent commitment to projects that drive progress and safety in the state, adding: “We are grateful to the UBA Group for their significant contribution to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund. This donation will strengthen our efforts to enhance security and protect our citizens. Together we are building a safer Lagos for all.”

The scale of the gift becomes clearer when set against the LSTF’s own estimates. To fully equip a police officer with uniforms, protective gear and communication devices requires a minimum of ₦3 million. By that measure, UBA’s donation could cover the complete outfitting of more than 160 officers. In a city where a working radio or a functioning patrol vehicle can make the difference between safety and vulnerability, the potential impact is evident. Another key pressure point is the state’s patrol fleet. Patrol vehicles are the most visible face of deterrence in Lagos. The 260 vehicles launched in December were for reach, speed and presence. Donations like UBA’s ensure that these vehicles are not only acquired but also fueled, serviced and kept roadworthy. The small but essential costs of tyres, batteries and maintenance determine whether an investment translates into lasting safety.

UBA Foundation’s hefty investment in security sits squarely at the intersection of business survival and community stability. Banks are uniquely exposed to urban risks. Their branches sit on busy streets, their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) glow through the night and their staff travel across the sprawling metropolis every day. Safer streets mean lower insurance costs, fewer disruptions to business operations and uninterrupted customer access. For UBA, security is the foundation of commerce. At a strategic level, the donation provides proof that UBA has consistently promoted peace and security as the bedrock of economic growth. A few months before the donation to Lagos State, the bank had contributed $500,000 to the African Union Peace Fund as an investment in continental stability. The donation to the Lagos State Government was the local manifestation of the same worldview.

Prior to that, some of the UBA Foundation’s boldest footprints had been in education and youth empowerment. Its National Essay Competition has nurtured young writers, while its Read Africa Initiative has promoted a reading culture. For many, these were life-changing opportunities.

“This opportunity has changed my life, and I really appreciate UBA and the UBA Foundation for this,” said Adaeze Chukwuzolem Onaro, winner of the 2023 National Essay Competition.

Through “Each One, Teach One,” UBA staff have volunteered to mentor young people in financial literacy, career skills and coding. The Foundation has also partnered with the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) to plant trees along highways and public spaces. At the launch of the UBA Foundation’s Tree Planting Initiative in July 2023, LASPARK General Manager, Adetoun Popoola, praised the bank’s commitment: “I am particularly pleased that United Bank for Africa (UBA) through the UBA Foundation aims to build a safer and sustainable environment for Lagosians with the tree planting initiative themed “Shades of Hope: One Tree at a Time” She further urged others to follow UBA’s lead: “While appreciating UBA Foundation on this laudable initiative of voluntary tree planting exercise… I call on other corporate organizations to emulate UBA by investing in their host communities through other environmentally conscious projects.”

Community reactions to the security donation have also been positive. Lagosians tend to value visible investments that translate into security presence. Government responses have been predictably warm, with officials framing UBA’s gesture as evidence of corporate commitment to shared responsibility. The annual town halls of the LSTF are often used to spotlight such donations and to encourage others to contribute. Civil society observers, however, urge vigilance. They note that without accountability, funds of this kind can be mismanaged. The Lagos model, they argue, is stronger precisely because it brings multiple stakeholders into the fold, publishes needs and stages open forums.

To the government’s credit, it has sought to address these concerns by publishing crime data and linking donations to specific equipment. UBA and other donors enhance their credibility when they also demand transparency and measurable results from the Trust Fund. Studies of security outcomes in Lagos suggest that Trust Fund investments have coincided with improvements in certain categories of crime, particularly when paired with surveillance, communications technology and coordinated operations. The December 2024 rollout of vehicles created immediate pressure on crime during the festive season.

UBA Foundation’s move into security philanthropy carries credibility because it fits into a long record of community investment. For more than a decade, the bank has supported education, environment and youth empowerment. This consistency reassures the public that the donation is not a fleeting public relations exercise but part of a coherent vision.

The ₦500 million cheque from UBA Foundation was therefore not just generosity. It was a clear statement of interest in protecting the business environment, promoting economic growth, and safeguarding communities. In a city where risk is part of daily life, corporate support for security is not charity but investment in stability.