UBA inducts 720 young professionals into workforce

United Bank for Africa (UBA) has inducted 720 young professionals into its workforce, tasking them with embracing discipline, resilience, and execution as they begin what it described as a defining journey to shape Africa’s future.

At a ceremony held on Thursday at the Landmark Events Centre, Lagos, the bank formally welcomed graduates of Cohorts 19 and 20 of its Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP), an initiative designed to groom the next generation of African banking leaders.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, described the programme as more than a training platform, calling it a deliberate strategy to build a sustainable leadership pipeline across the continent. According to him, the latest intake, 306 from Cohort 19 and 414 from Cohort 20, brings the total number of GMAP-trained professionals to over 5,000, underscoring UBA’s long-term investment in human capital development.

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“This is not just a programme; it is UBA’s living commitment to Africa’s future,” he said, adding that the graduates must now transition from structured learning to performance-driven careers. “The real work starts now,” he warned, noting that pressure, complexity, and setbacks would test their resolve but ultimately shape them into leaders.

During an interactive session with the graduates, the Group Chairman of UBA Group, Tony Elumelu, shifted the focus beyond corporate success, urging the young professionals to see their careers as instruments for broader societal impact. He stressed that true success lies not just in personal achievement but in the ability to contribute meaningfully to national and continental development.

“Impact is not about one individual, it is about all of us,” he said, noting that poverty and insecurity remain shared challenges that require collective responsibility. According to him, professionals must rise to the occasion by creating opportunities, improving lives, and strengthening institutions.

He emphasised that leadership is fundamentally about managing people and aligning diverse aspirations toward a shared vision, adding that discipline and a strong value system are essential to building enduring organisations. “You must reinforce what is right and ensure that excellence becomes the standard,” he said.

Drawing from his personal journey, the UBA chairman highlighted the importance of self-belief, hard work, and sacrifice, recalling modest beginnings and the need for delayed gratification in pursuit of long-term success. He urged the graduates to remain focused and consistent, stressing that performance, not connections, remains the most reliable path to recognition and growth.

“Let your work speak for you,” he advised.
Also speaking, UBA’s Group Head of Human Resources, Katrina Modupe Akindele, explained that the selection process for the programme is highly competitive, attracting millions of applications and involving rigorous assessments, simulations, and executive evaluations before candidates are admitted into a six-month intensive training programme.

She noted that the initiative is structured as a long-term leadership pipeline, with many of the graduates expected to rise to managerial and executive positions within a few years.

“This is just the beginning of their journey,” she said, reaffirming the bank’s belief in the capacity of young Africans to drive transformation across the continent.

With the latest induction, UBA has reinforced its position as one of Africa’s leading talent developers, placing youth empowerment at the heart of its growth strategy while betting on a new generation to power the continent’s economic future.