Tony Elumelu and Kennedy Uzoka, chairman and chief executive respectively of the United Bank for Africa Plc, last week in Lagos charged the boards of its subsidiaries across Africa, the United Kingdom and New York on the need to enshrine good corporate governance and remain customer-focus, to ensure sustainability of their operations.
They spoke at the third editions of its annual Group Chairman’s Forum, a platform for group integration, re-strategising and knowledge sharing with the overall aim of putting the bank on firm standing to actualize its goals and targets for the financial year.
On the year’s theme focused on: ‘Efficient and effective communication across the group; Entrenchment of enduring corporate culture and corporate governance, Elumelu, who chaired the gathering, reminded participants that UBA Plc must be partner in development of their various countries of operation, hence the need for corporate accountability.
Putting the customer at the forefront and tailoring services to meet their demands remains the focal point of the bank across the 20 African countries, and elsewhere, just as a culture of good corporate governance is key to building an enduring financial institution.
A strong and institutionalized corporate governance, laden with excellence in customer service, according to Elumelu will drive more investment to the bank and thus allow it to contribute meaningfully to the development of the African economy.
According to Elumelu, “as long term investors and Africa enthusiasts, we are committed to the markets in which we operate and to the wider African economy. We will continue to work with credible partners and governments across Africa to identify and develop those critical growth poles required for the sustainable development of all African economies.
“In line with this, we must inculcate a culture that enforces corporate governance, individual and corporate accountability, a high sense of urgency and a customer first orientation in getting things done. Responsiveness and accountability are key attributes of High Performing Organizations. We know that the culture of corporate governance is key and we intend to focus on this to ensure that our goals for the financial year are duly met,” Elumelu stressed
Also speaking, Uzoka emphasized the bank’s ideals of excellence, enterprise and execution, adding that the business had to be more customer-focused than ever before, laced with elements of effective and efficient communication which cannot be undermined. These, he continued, represent an embodiment of what the bank stands for at all times.
At the end of the parley, participants at the forum resolved to do all in their power to continue positioning the bank as the leading Pan-African Bank across all key indices – brand equity, human capital, customer service and profitability. They also agreed to inculcate a culture of responsiveness at UBA Group, with zero tolerance for any regulatory infraction across all operations.
Speakers at the Forum included Director of Marketing Corporate Communication, Bola Atta, Director of Human Capital Management, Patricia Aderibigbe; Head of Risk, Uche Ike and the Managing Partner of Angela Aneke Associates.
The newly appointed Regional CEOs, Emeke Iweriebor, Amie Sow, Abiola Bawuah and Martin Che also made presentations on how they intend to achieve their strong objectives for this financial year.
The meeting was attended all the group chair persons from across Africa, Group board executive and non-executive directors and CEOs of each of the 20 subsidiaries of the bank’s group. The top executive echelon in the bank, including heads of units were also present to put heads together to develop key strategies aimed at building the bank’s brand and satisfying its customers.

Photo caption: Group Chairman, UBA Plc, Tony Elumelu; Vice Chairman, Amb. Joe Keshi; GMD/CEO, Kennedy Uzoka; and Deputy Group Managing Director, Victor Osadolor, flanked by group’s board members, senior management executives, board chairmen and CEOs of UBA subsidiaries across the globe, at the Chairman’ Forum held in Lagos.