Seven hundred young professionals have graduated from the Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) of the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), reaffirming the bank’s commitment to youth empowerment, leadership development, and capacity building across the African continent.
According to a statement from the bank, the graduation ceremony was held on Sunday at the Landmark Events Centre, Lagos, and attended by top executives, board members, and faculty. The event celebrated graduates from Nigeria and other African countries where UBA operates.
Present at the ceremony were UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu; Deputy Group Managing Director, Chukwuma Nweke; and members of the executive management team, who welcomed the new professionals into what they described as the “UBA Tribe.”
Since its inception over three years ago, the GMAP has produced more than 4,000 graduates, providing mentorship, leadership training, and hands-on experience in banking and financial management.
In his remarks, Elumelu referred to the graduands as “lions and lionesses,” commending their hard work and expressing optimism about their future.
“We are happy to have you as part of this tribe. At UBA, we strongly believe in the transformative power of young people, and that is why we designed this programme to transfer knowledge and experience. A few decades ago, I started out just like you, fresh out of the university. I look forward to seeing you prove your worth,” Elumelu said.
He stressed that UBA’s mission transcends profit-making, noting that the bank plays a central role in catalysing economic growth and driving Africa’s prosperity.
Speaking on behalf of the Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, Nweke applauded the graduates’ resilience and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to human capital development.
“This ceremony is a celebration of potential, perseverance, and purpose. You are not just graduates; you are our next generation of innovators and ambassadors of an enduring legacy. Africa’s future will be shaped by capable and courageous leaders like you,” he said.
Nweke further explained that the six-month programme combined classroom learning, digital simulations, field assignments, and mentorship from senior UBA executives to ensure well-rounded development.
The new graduates, who now join UBA’s workforce of over 25,000 employees, were encouraged to take ownership of their careers, demonstrate initiative, and drive transformation in technology, customer experience, and sustainability.
United Bank for Africa is one of Africa’s largest financial institutions, serving more than 45 million customers across 20 African countries and with operations in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates.
