Octagon Africa Marks 18 Years of Impactful Retirement Solutions Across East and Southern Africa
Octagon Africa Financial Services Limited has marked 18 years of redefining financial security across East and Southern Africa through inclusive and innovative retirement solutions. Established in 2007, the firm has grown into a regional force with operations in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, and continues to eye further expansion across the continent.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement event, Group CEO Fred Waswa described the milestone as a reflection of the lives transformed and the trust earned over the years.
“Octagon Africa is not just celebrating longevity, but impact,” said Waswa. “We’ve journeyed with employers, employees, and regulators to reimagine pension services as tools of dignity, empowerment, and peace of mind.”
At the heart of this transformation is the Octagon Umbrella Retirement Benefits Scheme (OURBS) a revolutionary pension solution registered by the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) in 2014.
OURBS targets small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and informal sector players traditionally excluded from formal pension structures. The scheme has delivered remarkable results, including a 13.8 percent return in 2024, positioning it among the best-performing schemes in the country.
Waswa emphasized that the success of OURBS lies in its flexibility and accessibility. Employers with as few as three employees can now offer structured retirement benefits through a simple deed of adherence, avoiding the burden of setting up a standalone scheme.
The plan also allows employers to redirect NSSF Tier II contributions, providing higher returns and customized benefits while ensuring full RBA compliance.
More than just a pension fund, OURBS offers bundled insurance products, financial literacy support, and mobile access via the Octagon Pension Administration System (OPAS), empowering members to monitor their savings in real time.
“Retirement planning shouldn’t be a privilege,” Waswa said. “Whether you’re a boda boda rider, artisan, or teacher, everyone deserves a dignified future. At Octagon, we manage not just funds we manage futures.”
Octagon’s multimanager investment approach and independently managed trust structure ensure transparency, strong governance, and diversified risk management. Looking ahead, the company plans to scale its Pan-African impact through strategic partnerships, tech innovation, and financial inclusion.
“As we celebrate 18 years, our commitment remains firm: to make retirement planning accessible to all Africans,” said Waswa. “Because a pension is not just a fund it’s a promise.”
