KAMPALA, Uganda — Equity Bank, through its Group Managing Director and CEO James Mwangi, has called for bold, purpose-driven leadership to shape Africa’s future and accelerate inclusive growth across the continent.
Speaking at the Rotary District 9214 Conference and Assembly 2026 held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Dr. Mwangi said Africa is at a defining moment and must take a more active role in shaping its position within the global economy.
He noted that the current global economic system was largely designed in the late 1940s, at a time when Africa was not represented, and urged leaders to ensure the continent moves from being “on the menu” to sitting “at the table” in global decision-making.
Dr. Mwangi commended Rotary International for its values-driven approach, emphasizing that movements like Rotary have the capacity to spark transformation across communities. He said the continent’s opportunities require intentional leadership, describing this period as a critical moment for Africa to determine its development path.
Drawing from the experience of Equity Group Holdings, he highlighted the importance of integrating social impact into business operations. He revealed that nearly 40 percent of loan defaults are linked to health-related shocks, prompting the Group to invest in healthcare through the Equity Group Foundation.
Under its Equity Afya initiative, the foundation has established more than 150 medical centres aimed at improving access to affordable healthcare and strengthening community resilience.
Dr. Mwangi also outlined the Group’s broader investment in human capital development, noting that over 60,000 scholarships have been awarded through its education and leadership programmes. Additionally, more than 2.4 million women and youth have been trained in financial literacy, while over 5.9 million individuals have benefited from social protection initiatives.
The Group has further supported over 3.8 million farmers and trained nearly one million micro, small and medium enterprises in entrepreneurship, helping expand economic opportunities and build sustainable livelihoods.
He said these initiatives are anchored in the institution’s purpose of transforming lives, restoring dignity, and creating opportunities for wealth creation across Africa.
On environmental sustainability, Dr. Mwangi highlighted efforts that include planting more than 44 million trees and distributing over 500,000 clean energy products, contributing to climate resilience and greener economic growth.
He emphasized that sustainable success is built on a shared prosperity model, where institutions grow alongside the communities they serve. Despite being recognised as one of Africa’s strongest financial brands, Equity continues to reinvest in society, allocating two percent of its annual revenue to social impact programmes.
Dr. Mwangi reaffirmed that the Group’s commitment to partnerships that promote inclusive growth, noting that Africa’s future will ultimately be shaped by the decisions and leadership demonstrated today.
