United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has welcomed 374 young professionals into its workforce after they successfully completed the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerator Programme (GMAP).
The graduates were inducted during a ceremony held in Lagos, marking the completion of Cohort 21 of the bank’s flagship talent development programme.
The latest cohort includes young professionals from Nigeria and other African countries where UBA operates. The programme is designed to prepare graduates for careers in banking by combining classroom learning, mentorship and practical experience.
With the latest graduation, UBA’s GMAP has now produced more than 5,000 young professionals, making it one of the bank’s major channels for developing future banking leaders.
Of the 374 graduates in the latest cohort, 223 were women while 151 were men. Nigeria produced the largest number, with 345 participants, while 29 graduates came from UBA subsidiaries in Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire.
UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, congratulated the new professionals and urged them to focus strongly on customer service as they begin their careers.
Elumelu explained that technology is making banking products increasingly similar across financial institutions, making the quality of customer service an important way for banks to stand out.
According to him, while competitors can replicate products and technology, the way a company treats and serves its customers remains a major point of difference.
He encouraged the graduates to use technology to improve customer experiences while maintaining the human side of banking.
The UBA chairman also expressed confidence in the new generation of employees, describing them as potential future leaders who could play an important role in the continued growth of the bank.
He urged them to remain passionate about their careers and embrace hard work, discipline and excellence.
UBA Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, also congratulated the graduates, telling them that their certificates should be seen as the beginning of their professional journey rather than the end of their training.
Alawuba noted that the participants came from different countries, academic backgrounds and professional experiences but had now become part of one UBA family.
He advised the young professionals to approach every assignment with commitment, regardless of where they are posted or the nature of their responsibilities.
According to him, even a small assignment can provide an opportunity to demonstrate a positive attitude and excellence.
He further encouraged the graduates to continue learning as the banking industry changes rapidly, while making trust, professionalism and performance key parts of their careers.
The GMAP is structured to give young graduates practical knowledge of banking and prepare them for leadership responsibilities. Training areas include product development, trade finance, customer experience and other important aspects of financial services.
UBA said the programme remains an important part of its strategy to build a strong pipeline of young talent capable of contributing to the future of the bank and Africa’s financial sector.
