Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, yesterday held the maiden edition of its expanded Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP), whereby over 700 graduates were inducted into the UBA Tribe after a rigorous 6-month hands-on work and learning experience.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers-Nigeria (CIBN) accredited programme, adopted from the globally recognised Graduate Training Programme, is aimed at building the capacity of fresh graduates who are trained as professionals for accelerated career growth to leadership and key positions.
The graduates from across its 19 African subsidiaries completed an intense capacity-building programme, combining learning with on-the-job training experience garnered while rotating across the bank’s departments and units.
Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman–UBA, who spoke about the importance of prioritising human capital development, commended the robust programme that churns out bright and promising professionals poised to take the bank to another level.
“It is important to develop platforms for people to grow. We would love to see our future CEOs come from this programme, and I hope the enthusiasm, excitement and energy I see and feel in this room today translate into the greatness we anticipate; so that these young bright professionals can help take UBA to the next level,” Elumelu said.
“UBA is giving opportunities to young Africans by addressing unemployment on the continent. Employing these large numbers of young people at this time explains the role our bank is playing in engineering growth and development across Africa,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Group Managing Director Oliver Alawuba said the bank’s future is guaranteed considering the quality of graduates produced and commitment shown by participants over the programme’s duration.
“I have observed with pride the dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment shown by all participants of the GMAP programme, and I am delighted. The role of participants is pivotal in providing the much-needed resources required to make participants of the programme successful as they kick-start their careers.
“In UBA, we give everyone an equal opportunity to achieve their dreams, irrespective of age, tribe, gender and background. The transformation of our dear continent, Africa, is very important to our vision. To achieve this mandate, we need believers, doers and agents of transformation. Today, you have become an instrument that will transport our countries and continent to the new world order,” Alawuba said.
UBA is a leading pan-African financial institution offering banking services to more than thirty-seven million customers across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries.
With a presence in New York, London, Paris, Cayman Island and now the UAE, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; and trade finance and ancillary banking services.
