Captions: Tony O. Elumelu, Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA); Mrs Abiola Bawuah, Chief Executive Officer, UBA Africa; and Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Group, flanked by over 1,000 graduates of the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) Class of 2025 from across Africa, at the graduation ceremony held in Lagos on Wednesday.
The United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), on Wednesday in Lagos unveiled over 1,138 trainees from its various subsidiaries from across Africa, under its Graduate Management Acceleration Programme (GMAP).
The programme, which has produced over 3,222 your professionals in just three years, the group said in a statement, is its own contribution to making significant impact in birthing the next generation of banking and finance professionals on the continent.
The GMAP, the statement said, is designed to equip entrants with the necessary skills and knowledge, has provided mentorship, training, and hands-on experience to young graduates for leadership roles in UBA.
The successful graduates of the programme were inducted and absorbed by the bank following intensive training spanning several months of rigorous learning, testing the entrants’ dedication and resilience during the ceremony held at the Landmark Event Centre.
Speaking at the ceremony was attended by the UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, the Group Managing Director/ CEO, Oliver Alawuba, and other board members, executive management, faculty members, mentors, families, and friends of the graduates, Elumelu expressed excitement over the new graduates.
He highlighted the bank’s passion for youth empowerment in Africa while bridging the unemployment gap, which according to him, remains one of the greatest challenges in the continent.
“At UBA, we believe that Africa’s transformation is in the hands of young, dynamic, and ambitious professionals such as you. Through GMAP, we are not only shaping future leaders but also reinforcing our commitment to excellence and impact.
“To our graduands, remember that success is built on hard work, resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning. The world is waiting for you to make your mark,” Elumelu stressed
Speaking earlier, Alawuba expressed immense pride in the graduands and reiterated the bank’s unwavering commitment to human capital development.
“This moment marks the beginning of a transformational journey that will shape your careers, your contributions to society, and Africa at large. The GMAP is a testament to our vision of empowering the brightest minds with the skills, knowledge, and mind-set required to navigate the ever-evolving financial landscape,” he noted.
He noted UBA’s commitment to gender diversity and inclusion, highlighting that of the fresh 1,138 graduands, 666 (representing 58%) are women, a reflection of the bank’s dedication to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace.
Alawuba charged the graduands to uphold UBA’s core values of Excellence, Enterprise, and Execution, while embracing the bank’s Persona of Simplicity, Responsiveness, and Goal-oriented (SRG).
The ceremony featured inspiring testimonies from GMAP alumni who have made significant strides within the bank.
