Celebrating the 75 years of operation of United Bank for Africa (UBA), the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of the banking group, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, has said the bank will continue to support growth of businesses and economies in Africa.
Noting that the vision of the progenitors of UBA and the continued dedication of the board and staff, has continued to propel UBA towards greatness over the years. According to him, the success story of UBA since coming into existence 75 years ago, is a testament to vision and sheer determination that deserves commendation.
According to him, UBA has stayed relevant for 75 years by embracing technological advancements. “From launching the first chat banking bot in Africa, the first cash deposit ATMs in Nigeria to launching the Braille account opening form for the visually impaired, the bank has continued to balance reliability with innovation.
“Since 1949, UBA has continued to support and transform businesses across Africa, especially in the critical SME space. One such transformed business is Destination Global Investment, a beverage distribution company that was able to expand its business into major distributorship, through the support of UBA”. “This he attested to the bank’s huge contribution to the growth of businesses and the bank’s unwavering dedication to its customers (C1st Philosophy) which has made it easy to build this legacy of trust and reliability”.
Alawuba also applauded the group chairman of UBA Group, Tony Elumelu for his visionary leadership and tutelage without which, he said the bank’s success would have been impossible.
Also, Alawuba noted that the bank remains committed to improving and facilitating intra-Africa trade, adding that the $6 billion it pledged for that purpose would be used to finance it and as well as support from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).
“We are committed to developing Africa. We are committed to supporting the key sectors that are pushing African economies. And it is showing even in our performances and our businesses. If you look at our accounts and performance, you will see that our performance has continued to improve, reflecting clearly what we are doing.
“We don’t just support these businesses; we support all the value chains that are tied to these businesses so that the SMEs will continue to thrive. SMEs are the future of Africa and will continue to provide support to SME businesses,” he said.
“We are committed to expanding our presence, seizing growth opportunities, and delivering value to all stakeholders. Collaboration and partnerships as exemplified by the $6 billion SME funding agreement signed with the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will be instrumental in achieving our strategic objectives.
“We are dedicated to deepening relationships with customers, employees, regulators, and other stakeholders for mutual benefit and long-term success. As we embark on the next phase of our journey, I urge all stakeholders to continue their support and collaboration. Together, we will write the next chapter of success for United Bank for Africa Plc.”