United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has inducted 700 young professionals into the bank through its Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP).
The induction ceremony was held on Sunday at the Landmark Events Centre in Lagos.
The graduates were drawn from Nigeria and other African countries where UBA operates.
UBA group chairman Tony Elumelu, deputy group managing director Chukwuma Nweke, board members, executive management and faculty members attended the event.
Since its inception more than three years ago, the GMAP has produced over 4,000 banking and finance professionals.
The programme is designed to equip participants with practical skills and experience in the financial sector.
In his address, Mr Elumelu referred to the graduates as “lions and lionesses” and urged them to contribute to the bank’s goal of developing the continent’s next generation of leaders.
“At UBA, we believe in the power of young people,” he said.
“This programme allows us to pass on knowledge and experience to the next generation.”
He also encouraged the graduates to share ideas that could drive growth within the bank and across the continent.
Deputy managing director Nweke, representing group managing director Oliver Alawuba, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to human capital development.
Head of human resources Modupe Akindele said the GMAP was created to ensure sustainable leadership and succession planning across UBA’s operations.
She explained that the programme involves a rigorous selection process, including aptitude tests, simulations and executive interviews.
Successful candidates undergo six months of classroom and on-the-job training before being fully integrated into the bank.
Mrs Akindele said over 7,000 professionals have joined UBA through the GMAP since it began.
“So far, over 7,000 participants have successfully joined UBA through this programme. They are the future leaders who will take UBA’s vision of value creation for Africa to the next level,” she said.
