1949-2024. It has been 75 years since United Bank for Africa (UBA) was founded. Previously known as the French and British Bank, it has overcome thick and thin to position itself as one of the largest financial institutions in Africa. It is in such a context that an international conference was held on May 20 in Lagos, Nigeria, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the pan-African banking group. The ceremony, which brought together several guests, partners, shareholders, members of the diplomatic corps and colleagues, provided an opportunity to take stock of the last 75 years and communicate the bank’s vision for the future.
Information given by the group’s Deputy Managing Director, Muyiwa Akinyemi, indicates that UBA operates across four continents and in 24 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the United Arab Emirates. “Over the past 75 years, UBA has demonstrated stability and reliability in the financial sector. The bank has achieved great goals and had a positive impact on the financial sector. Our financial strength represents a key to our operations. UBA has made major investments to enhance the contributions of our shareholders,” he said. The bank’s commitment to social responsibility has also had a positive impact in all areas where it operates.
The celebration of resilience, stability and innovation demonstrates UBA’s journey across decades. “For some, UBA is a stable financial institution. For others, it is a pillar of stability,” said Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba. The contribution of customers to the bank’s influence was duly celebrated. “Their support and constant loyalty over the years has been tremendous. We meet some people who tell us that they are the third or fourth generation of UBA customers and that their parents were UBA customers and their children currently hold UBA ATM cards. This reflects the solidity of UBA,” maintains Mr. Alawuba.
The International Conference was also an opportunity to magnify the contributions of all stakeholders, so that the banking institution remains in orbit and offers quality services. In this regard, a tribute was paid to the Chairman of the group, Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu, for his visionary approach in 2005 which made it possible to raise the bank to its current level. Whether they are the general managers of the various UBA subsidiaries, the chairmen of the board of directors of the various subsidiaries, the members of the Executive Council, all the staff or even the drivers and security agents, their advice and sacrifices to expand the boundaries of UBA beyond 24 countries have been recognized.
The experience acquired by UBA over the last 75 years allows it to look to the future with optimism, through its values of entrepreneurship and excellence. In perspective, the UBA banking group wants to provide more added value to its customers. Hence its “Customer First” policy, intended to improve the customer experience. “Customers are the basis of our future success. The customer is our employer and the only reason we come to work every day. The pillars of technology and services make it possible to deliver innovative services to customers,” noted the bank’s Managing Director. “As we embark on the next stage of our journey, I urge customers to continue to support the bank. Together, we will write the next chapter of United Bank for Africa,” added Oliver Alawuba. Our source mainly focused on the investment of six billion dollars, the result of the agreement signed with the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to provide financial support to eligible SMEs across the African continent. .
