United Bank for Africa (UNA) has opened a renovated four-storey business office and innovation hub at the University of Lagos.
The bank said the facility would serve more than 80,000 customers linked to its branch within the university community.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, UBA group managing director Oliver Alawuba said the project reflected collaboration between the banking sector and the academic community.
“It is a landmark project that speaks of the partnership between innovation and education,” he said.
Mr Alawuba said UBA opened its first branch at the university in 1969 and described the new building as a continuation of the relationship between both institutions.
He added that the partnership would go beyond banking services.
The bank also announced a N60 million donation for the UBA Professorial Chair in Finance Research at the university.
According to Alawuba, the fund is expected to support research and strengthen collaboration between the bank and the institution.
Vice chancellor of UNILAG Folasade Ogunsola said the project showed the importance of partnerships between universities and private organisations.
“This building is not just about brick and mortar, but it is a symbol of what industry and university partnership looks like,” she said.
Holder of the UBA Professorial Chair in Finance Adedoyin Lawal said the programme would focus on research, mentoring, curriculum development and product development.
Mr Lawal said work had already started on financial technology curricula for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programmes.
“We want to prepare the youths through curriculum development to be able to fill gaps,” he said.
