The United Bank for Africa Plc over the weekend hosted clients, friends and well-wishers from all works of life joined the group, led by the Chairman, Tony Elumelu, to commemorate its platinum anniversary of legacy achievements.
The 70-years celebration was combined with the bank’s annual CEO Awards ceremony as members of staff from all its 23 countries of operations who had excelled over the past year were rewarded in the midst of thousands of guests.
Dignitaries at the epic night were royal fathers, captains of industry, political leaders, clients and friends of the bank, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Emir of Kano, represented by the Sarkin Shanun of Kano, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed; former and present Governors of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke and Prof Ben Ayade; Governors-elect of Lagos, Ogun and Kwara States, Babajide Sanwo-olu, Dapo Abiodun and Abdulrahman AbdulRazak respectively.
Also present were former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former governors of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniels, and Chief Segun Osoba; as well as Otunba Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State; chairmen of Zenith Bank and FBN Holdings Plc, Dr. Jim Ovia and Oba Otudeko. The event was also attended by Nnamdi Okonkwo, chief executive of Fidelity Bank; and former chief executive of the Bank of Industry, Rasheed Olaoluwa, amongst many others.
Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babaginda, who could not attend the event, sent in letters of congratulations to commend the bank on its landmark achievements.
Elumelu, who was accompanied by his wife Dr. Awele, said UBA remains a leading financial institution on the continent and that hitting the 70th year mark was a laudable achievement.
For him, therefore, “it is a time to celebrate UBA’s rich heritage and legacy over 70 years and to tell everyone who has contributed to what UBA is today, that we appreciate all they have been doing and how they have ensured that the investment put into the bank over the past decades have paid off.”
Tony Elumelu who invited all past chairmen, board members, and management as well as senior staff both past and present on stage said “These are cherished moments for us, and we’d like to thank all of you who have made it possible for us to be where we are today. Thank you to everyone, our customers, stakeholders and those who have passed through UBA and worked hard to lay a solid foundation for creating a foremost institution. It is an evening worth celebrating for us all. 70 years is a huge number, a milestone achievement.”
Also, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Uzoka, spoke of the banks’ achievements over the past 70 years and some of its objectives for the coming years, commending the staff for their hard work and resilience that have contributed to UBA retaining its position as Africa’s top bank of choice.
“Every year, it is our tradition to appreciate our people who have put in their very best and gone far and beyond the call of duty to deliver excellent services to our customers and this year is even more exciting as we celebrate 70 years of our existence.”
On his part, Ovia while commending the management and staff of the group, said “UBA remains one of the greatest banks in Sub Saharan Africa. UBA is built to last. I heartily congratulate all staff and shareholders. I should have bought UBA shares but I guess it is not too late to do that’ he stated.
A statement by the group said at the celebrations, the story of UBA was depicted in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the Lion King. Serengeti depicts the story of the young cub who grew into a strong Lion, in spite of the odds, and empowered all the other animals in the jungle. Great performances by A-list artists such as ‘science students’ crooner, Olamide, Phyno, Patoranking, Dbanj and female sensation, Tiwa Savage entertained the audience of over 2500 guests. The surprise act which ended the night on a high was the performance by award-winning Nigerian artist, Wizkid who delivered nothing but the best in entertainment.