United Bank for Africa (UBA) has inducted 398 young men and women from six African countries into the UBA Tribe through its Graduate Management Acceleration Program (GMAP).
The induction ceremony, which took place on Thursday in Lagos, followed a six-month practical and learning experience to develop their inherent potential upon graduation.
GMAP, according to UBA, is designed to select, develop and create a pipeline of next generation leaders and bankers who will be trained to “drive the bank’s vision to be the undisputed leading and dominant financial services institution in Africa” .
The inductees, according to a statement by the financial institution, are from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.
Elumelu speaks
In his welcome address, UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu congratulated the new inductees and expressed deep pride and admiration for their success “having completed the intensive capacity building programme”.
Mr Elumelu is said to have highlighted the bank’s passion for empowering the youth in Africa while bridging the unemployment gap, which he said remains one of the continent’s biggest challenges.
The statement reads in part: “To me, these new UBA graduates are a testament to who we are: a truly pan-African team investing in African talent. This milestone is more than just numbers. It marks UBA’s commitment to youth empowerment.
“Unemployment is the greatest challenge we face – a tragic and cruel betrayal of a generation. We know that governments alone cannot create all the jobs we need – so it is up to us, the African private sector, to work with our government to improve lives and livelihoods.
“This is Africanism and it is gratifying to see UBA playing its part. UBA is committed to creating positive impact, through the GMAP program, UBA is creating jobs, boosting economic growth and transforming lives across Africa.”
According to Mr. Elumelu, the young professionals were trained and equipped for the future by UBA not only for a career at UBA, but wherever they end up, “because this is how we play our role as a Pan-African bank, helping Empower the next generation” .
“We help create jobs and that for us is our driving force,” he added.
Prospective GMAP implications
In his address, UBA Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, commended the graduating class for their unwavering commitment and highlighted the role of the program in nurturing the next generation of UBA leaders.
“Your dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment have been nothing short of inspiring. Each of you has demonstrated the qualities of a true ambassador of UBA and today, we celebrate not only your achievements but also the collective strength of our UBA family,” Mr. Alawuba said.
He also acknowledged the support provided by families and friends throughout the program.
“Their love, encouragement and understanding have undoubtedly been instrumental in your success,” he said.
Also, UBA’s Group Head, Human Resources, Modupe Akindele, said the bank remains committed to nurturing talent and leadership within the organization.
ALSO READ: Beneficiaries receive $5,000 each as Tony Elumelu Foundation announces 2024 cohort
Mrs. Akindele noted that the GMAP program, which marked its second graduation, will be an ongoing initiative as it culminates an intensive journey towards leadership excellence.
According to Mrs. Akindele, the program has produced over 1,100 graduates, that is about 700 in 2023 and 398 new graduates.
“The fact remains that at UBA, we believe in equal opportunity for all, regardless of age, race, gender or background. and thus, we will continue to pursue our dream of nurturing these young people to their full potential,” he noted.
About UBA
United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-five million customers, in more than 1,000 business offices and customer contact points, in 20 African countries and on 4 continents.
With a presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France and most recently the United Arab Emirates, UBA connects people and businesses across Africa through retail. commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.
Support PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
At Premium Times, we strongly believe in the importance of high-quality journalism. Recognizing that not everyone can afford expensive news subscriptions, we are committed to providing thoroughly researched, verified news that remains freely accessible to all.
Whether you turn to Premium Times for daily updates, in-depth investigations into pressing national issues or entertaining trending stories, we value your readership.
It’s important to recognize that producing news comes at a cost, and we pride ourselves on never putting our stories behind a prohibitive paywall.
Would you consider supporting us with a small monthly contribution to maintain our commitment to free, accessible news?
Make a contribution
TEXT AD: Call Willie – +2348098788999