Seven hundred young professionals have graduated from the United Bank for Africa Plc Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP), marking another milestone in the bank’s ongoing investment in youth empowerment, leadership training, and capacity building across the African continent.
The colourful graduation ceremony took place on Sunday at the Landmark Events Centre in Lagos, drawing participants from Nigeria and several African countries where UBA maintains operational presence. The event celebrated the achievements of the graduates while reinforcing the bank’s corporate vision of nurturing future leaders capable of transforming Africa’s financial landscape.
UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, led top executives and board members to the ceremony, joined by the Deputy Group Managing Director, Chukwuma Nweke, senior management staff, faculty members, and mentors who played active roles in the training process. The newly inducted professionals were officially welcomed into what the bank proudly calls the “UBA Tribe.”
According to the bank’s management, the Graduate Management Accelerated Programme is a strategic initiative designed to attract, train, and retain young, ambitious, and talented individuals. Over the past three years, the programme has produced more than 4,000 graduates who have been equipped with world-class knowledge in banking, leadership, innovation, and customer experience.
Elumelu, in his address to the graduates whom he described as “lions and lionesses” emphasised the bank’s long-term vision of creating a new generation of leaders who would drive Africa’s economic transformation. He recalled his own early career journey and encouraged the new graduates to see the programme as the beginning of an exciting professional adventure.
“We are happy to have you as part of this tribe,” Elumelu said. “At UBA, we strongly believe in the transformative power of young people, and that is why we designed this programme to transfer the baton of knowledge and experience to the next generation. A few decades ago, I started just like you, fresh out of the university, and I am delighted that this organisation is giving you the same opportunity.”
He further stressed that UBA’s mission goes beyond profit-making to encompass social impact and economic development. “Our role as a bank is not only to make money but to be relevant to the society, to help solve real problems, and to catalyse prosperity across the African continent,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, Deputy Group Managing Director, Chukwuma Nweke, praised the graduates for their commitment, describing the ceremony as “a celebration of potential, perseverance, and purpose.” He highlighted that the programme reflects UBA’s belief in human capital development as the foundation of sustainable progress.
“You are not just graduates,” Nweke stated. “You are the next generation of innovators, leaders, and ambassadors of our enduring legacy. The future of Africa will not be shaped by chance but by capable and courageous leaders like you.”
Nweke also outlined the structure of the six-month GMAP, which he said combined classroom learning, digital simulations, field assignments, and direct mentorship from senior executives. This hybrid approach, he noted, ensures that participants not only understand theoretical concepts but also gain practical insights into real-world banking operations.
The new graduates were charged to take ownership of their careers, exhibit initiative, and become champions of transformation in areas such as digital innovation, customer experience, and sustainability. Many expressed excitement at joining UBA’s growing workforce and pledged to contribute to the bank’s success across its 20 African subsidiaries and international branches.
United Bank for Africa remains one of the largest employers in Africa’s financial services sector, with a staff strength of over 25,000 and a customer base exceeding 45 million worldwide. The bank operates in 20 African countries, in addition to offices in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates, underscoring its position as a truly pan-African financial institution.
