United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has graduated 374 young professionals from its Graduate Management Accelerator Programme (GMAP), as the bank continues to build its pool of young talent across Africa.
The graduates were inducted into the bank at a ceremony held in Lagos on Thursday, marking the completion of the 21st cohort of the GMAP programme.
The latest cohort includes 223 women and 151 men from UBA operations across eight African countries.
While 345 graduates are from Nigeria, the remaining 29 are from the bank’s operations in Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire.
The programme, which provides young graduates with training, mentorship and practical experience in banking, has now produced more than 5,000 professionals since it began.
Elumelu: Service Will Set UBA Apart
Speaking at the ceremony, UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, said customer service would remain important to the bank as technology continues to make financial products more similar across the industry.
Elumelu was responding to a question on what would distinguish UBA from its competitors as banks increasingly rely on technology.
He said technology could be copied, but the quality of service offered to customers could remain a major difference.
“Products can be commoditised, but service never can, because there is always a differentiator in how you serve and how you create,” Elumelu said.
He added, “As everyone leverages technology, the differentiator becomes how that technology is used to make our customers happy.”
The UBA chairman also told the graduates that he was confident they could play important roles in the bank’s future.
“As future leaders of UBA, people like you give me confidence that if we hand over to your generation, UBA will be safe,” he said.
Elumelu also advised the young professionals to remain committed to their work, urging them to hold on to their passion while building their careers through discipline and hard work.
Alawuba: Make Every Posting Count
UBA Group Managing Director and CEO, Oliver Alawuba, also congratulated the graduates, but reminded them that the ceremony marked the beginning of their careers with the bank.
He said the new employees came from different backgrounds and countries but were now part of one UBA team.
“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,” Alawuba said.
He advised the graduates not to allow their first posting or assignment to determine how seriously they approach their work.
“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,” he said.
Alawuba also asked them to keep learning as they progress in their careers, protect the trust placed in them and turn their abilities into results.
Programme Prepares Young Bankers
The GMAP is UBA’s structured entry programme for young graduates seeking careers in the banking industry.
The programme combines technical banking training with practical exposure in areas including product design, trade finance and customer experience.
UBA said the programme is part of its wider investment in developing young professionals who can take on leadership roles within the bank and contribute to Africa’s growth.
The bank currently serves more than 45 million customers globally and has operations in 20 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, United States, France and the United Arab Emirates.
It provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services across its markets.
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