United Bank for Africa (UBA) has celebrated the graduation of over 700 young professionals from its Graduate Management Acceleration Programme (GMAP), reinforcing its role as a leading employer and youth development institution across the continent. The ceremony, held at the Landmark Events Centre in Lagos, marked the induction of Cohorts 19 and 20 into the bank’s workforce, bringing the total number of GMAP alumni to more than 5,000 since the programme’s inception.
Group Chairman Tony Elumelu addressed the new graduates, highlighting the significance of their achievement and the bank’s commitment to empowering Africa’s youth. He urged the young professionals to embrace discipline, ambition, and institutional pride, describing them as living proof that the continent’s future rests in capable hands. Elumelu also stressed the importance of building enduring systems and institutionalising best practices to ensure sustained success.
Group Managing Director Oliver Alawuba shared his own journey from entry-level to leadership, encouraging the graduates to see their current roles as stepping stones. He emphasised UBA’s corporate values—the 3Es of Excellence, Enterprise, and Execution, and the SRG persona of Simplicity, Responsiveness, and Goal-orientation—as guiding principles for their careers.
This year’s cohort includes 720 trainees, with women making up more than 60 per cent of the intake, underscoring UBA’s commitment to gender inclusion and empowerment. The bank’s ongoing investment in youth development is part of a broader strategy to reduce unemployment and unlock the potential of Africa’s large young population.
UBA operates in 20 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates. With a global customer base exceeding 45 million and a workforce of 25,000, the bank remains at the forefront of financial inclusion and technological innovation on the continent. Through initiatives like GMAP, UBA continues to position itself as a catalyst for Africa’s economic growth and youth empowerment.
