*The United Bank for Africa Plc graduates and inducts 374 young professionals with the skills, knowledge, mentorship, training, and hands-on experience needed to boost their careers, and succeed in the banking sector across the African continent
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, has graduated and inducted 374 young professionals into its workforce, marking the completion of Cohort 21 of its Graduate Management Accelerator Programme (GMAP).
GMAP is the UBA flagship talent development scheme.
The induction of the new young professionals held at Landmark Events Centre Thursday, August 20, 2025, in Lagos, celebrating graduates from Nigeria and across African countries where the bank operates in the continent.
The leading commercial bank the GMAP as a programme “designed to equip young professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and succeed in the banking sector, and has now graduated more than 5,000 young professionals, providing them with the mentorship, training and hands-on experience needed to boost their careers.
The bank disclosed the cohort, made up of 223 women and 151 men, was drawn from UBA operations across eight African countries, with 345 graduates from UBA Nigeria and 29 from subsidiaries in Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Group Chairman of UBA Plc, welcomed the graduates.
Elumelu took the opportunity of the occasion to reinforce customer service as the Bank’s defining edge of UBA.
Elumelu: Excellent service can’t be commoditised
In regard to what would set UBA apart as technology makes banking products increasingly similar, the Group Chairman mentioned to service as the one advantage competitors cannot copy, UBA stated on its corporate Web site.
He also noted: “Products can be commoditised, but service never can, because there is always a differentiator in how you serve and how you create.
“As everyone leverages technology, the differentiator becomes how that technology is used to make our customers happy.”
Elumelu further said: “As future leaders of UBA, people like you give me confidence that if we hand over to your generation, UBA will be safe.”
He equally urged the fresh cohort to protect their passion and pursue hard work, discipline and excellence throughout their careers.
GMD/CEO urges new intakes to embrace excellence, enterprise and execution
In his remarks at the graduation and induction ceremony for the 374 young professionals into the bank’s workforce, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO), congratulated the new intakes.
Alawuba described the certificates they received as “a commissioning” rather than ” a conclusion”.
He urged them to carry the Bank’s standards into every posting across the continent.
Akawuba also stated: “You came from different countries, with different experiences and disciplines, but today you have graduated as one UBA family, united by one ambition, to build Africa’s future.
“Your first posting may not be your preferred destination, but make it your platform and give it your best.
“No assignment is too small to reveal a great attitude, and no role is too modest for excellence.”
The Group Managing Director/CEO, therefore, encouraged them to learn faster than the world changes, and to treat trust as their most valuable asset.
Alawuba as well urged the new young professionals to convert potential into performance, linking each to the bank’s core values of excellence, enterprise and execution.