By Ssenkayi Marvin Ezra<\/p>\n\n\n\n
National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Managing Director Patrick Ayota has called for urgent action to mobilise Africa\u2019s pension assets as a key source of financing for the continent\u2019s infrastructure and development agenda, saying the time has come for Africa to \u201cfund its own future.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ayota made the remarks while delivering the opening address at the All-Africa Pension Summit 2025, hosted by NSSF Uganda at Speke Resort, Munyonyo in Kampala. The summit was held under the theme \u201cConnect. Collaborate. Power Africa\u2019s Future.\u201d The three-day summit brought together policymakers, investors, and thought leaders from across the continent to discuss how to unlock long-term capital and expand pension coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe stand at a critical juncture,\u201d Ayota said. \u201cTraditional development finance is declining, yet our infrastructure needs are soaring. The question isn\u2019t whether we can fund our own growth \u2014 it\u2019s how quickly we can mobilise the capital that\u2019s already within our reach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citing statistics from the African Development Bank, Ayota noted that Africa faces an annual financing gap of about USD 1.3 trillion, which most countries attempt to bridge through borrowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo close this gap, we\u2019ve relied too heavily on debt \u2014 both domestic and external,\u201d he added. \u201cBut this growing debt burden is crowding out resources needed for social services, infrastructure, and economic development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ayota pointed out that despite Africa having one of the lowest default rates in the world \u2014 around 1.4 percent \u2014 the continent continues to face disproportionately high borrowing costs, with the cost of borrowing across Africa averaging almost twice as much as in Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAcross Sub-Saharan Africa, the cost of capital averages between 8 and 9 percent,\u201d he said. \u201cCompare that to Asia, where rates range from 4 to 5 percent. That gap represents a structural imbalance. Our economies are creditworthy, but we continue to pay a premium just to access financing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He urged African leaders and financial institutions to work together to address this imbalance and create a fairer, more enabling financial landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time we corrected this structural challenge,\u201d Ayota said. \u201cWe must build a financing ecosystem that reflects our growing creditworthiness and unlocks our potential for inclusive growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ayota emphasised that pension funds offer a powerful solution to Africa\u2019s financing dilemma, describing them as \u201cpatient capital\u201d ideally suited for long-term investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPensions hold patient capital \u2014 the perfect engine for Africa\u2019s development,\u201d he said. \u201cWith long-term investment horizons, steady cash flows, and built-in inflation protection, pension funds are uniquely positioned to drive sustainable growth. They don\u2019t just deliver financial returns; they create jobs, strengthen communities, and power the continent\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His remarks set the tone for a summit focused on unlocking domestic capital, building partnerships, and promoting sustainable investments that respond to Africa\u2019s social and economic realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other speakers at the summit further echoed his call for greater African ownership of the continent\u2019s development financing, with David Owino, Chair of the East Africa Venture Capital Association (EAVCA), noting that most private equity funds operating in Africa are still funded from outside the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToday, African investors contribute only about one percent of the private equity capital deployed here,\u201d Owino said. \u201cThat means there are people who believe in Africa\u2019s development more than Africans believe in themselves. We must change that mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event was also attended by Hon. Betty Amongi, Uganda\u2019s Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, who underscored Uganda\u2019s commitment to linking pension reform, labour equity, and social protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next three days, the All-Africa Pension Summit 2025 will focus on unlocking long-term capital, expanding coverage, and advancing sustainability across Africa\u2019s pension landscape \u2014 to position local institutions like NSSF Uganda at the heart of the continent\u2019s growth story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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By Ssenkayi Marvin Ezra National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Managing Director Patrick Ayota has called for urgent action to mobilise Africa\u2019s pension assets as a key source of financing for the continent\u2019s infrastructure and development agenda, saying the time has come for Africa to \u201cfund its own future.\u201d Ayota made the remarks while delivering the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n