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United Bank for Africa (UBA) marked its 75th anniversary in Lagos this week, with Group Managing Director Oliver Alawuba reaffirming the bank’s dedication to customers under its tripartite pillar of people, process, and technology.
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At a World Press Conference to commemorate the milestone, Alawuba highlighted UBA’s remarkable growth, emphasizing the bank’s stability and excellence.
UBA’s ten pioneering milestones
He outlined ten pioneering milestones that underscore UBA’s legacy of innovation:
- First IPO in Nigeria’s Banking Sector (1970): UBA was the first bank in Nigeria to offer an Initial Public Offering.
- First Nigerian Bank Listed on NSE: UBA was the first to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
- First Nigerian Bank in the USA and London: UBA opened branches in these international financial hubs.
- First to Install ATMs in Nigeria: Pioneered the installation of Automated Teller Machines.
Others are:
- First Campus Branch at the University of Lagos: UBA opened the first campus branch in Nigeria.
- First African Subsidiary in Ghana (2005): Expanded its footprint with a subsidiary in Ghana.
- First Nigerian Bank with a Female Board Chairperson: UBA appointed the first female board chairperson in Nigeria.
Yet some more:
- Pioneer of Mobile Banking in Nigeria: Introduced mobile banking services.
- First Multi-lingual Chatbot Banking (Leo): Launched the first multi-lingual chatbot in Nigeria.
- Most Successful Prepaid Cards Across Africa: UBA leads in prepaid card services.
Established in 1949, UBA has grown from a modest start in Lagos Island to a global financial powerhouse, with operations in 20 African countries and four international financial centers: New York, London, Paris, and Dubai.
“Today, we have over 25,000 staff serving over 35 million customers through various channels, including 350,000 POS terminals, 2,000 ATMs, 1,000 business offices, and 19.7 million card customers.
“The past 75 years have been marked by stability and excellence, pillars upon which UBA’s legacy stands tall,” said Alawuba.
Looking Ahead
Alawuba shared UBA’s vision for the future: “Our goal is to be the role model for African businesses. UBA unites Africa, connecting Africans to the world and the world to Africa. Our primary focus is to facilitate capital flows, trade, and investments between Africa and the rest of the world.”
He also emphasized the bank’s commitment to expanding its presence, seizing growth opportunities, and delivering value to stakeholders.
This includes fostering collaboration and partnerships, exemplified by the recent $6 billion SME funding agreement with the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which will be instrumental in achieving UBA’s strategic objectives.
