Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Tony O. Elumelu; CEO, UBA Africa, Mrs Abiola Bawuah; and GMD/CEO, UBA Group, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, flanked by graduates of the Bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) Class of 2025, at the graduation ceremony held for over one thousand trainees from across Africa in Lagos on Wednesday
Yesterday, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc inducted over 1,100 young professional into its workforce through the Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP), demonstrating its commitment to shaping and competing in the future of Africa’s banking and finance sector. The graduation ceremony, held on Wednesday at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, celebrated the successful completion of months of intensive training for 1,138 participants from across the continent.
The event was attended by UBA Group Chairman, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, and CEO, UBA Africa, Mrs. Abiola Bawuah, who were joined by board members, faculty mentors, and families of the graduates. The ceremony recognized the exceptional efforts of the trainees, including prize winners who stood out during the programme.
Now in its third year, GMAP has provided training, mentorship, and hands-on experience to more than 3,222 young professionals, preparing them for leadership roles in UBA and the broader financial industry. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Elumelu emphasized UBA’s dedication to youth empowerment, stating,
“At UBA, we believe Africa’s transformation lies in the hands of young, dynamic, and ambitious professionals such as you. Through GMAP, we are shaping future leaders while addressing the continent’s unemployment challenges. Your success will be built on hard work, resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning.”
The GMAP programme, is designed to equip young graduates with the skills and hands-on experience needed for leadership roles within UBA. Over an intensive six-month period, participants undergo classroom training, mentorship, rotational assignments, and real-world banking experience to prepare them for full-time roles within the bank.
Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa(UBA), Mr. Tony O. Elumelu; Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Group, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, flanked by graduates of the Bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme(GMAP) Class of 2025, at the graduation ceremony held for over one thousand trainees from across Africa in Lagos on Wednesday.
UBA’s GMD/CEO, Mr. Alawuba, commended the new graduates, describing the programme as a key pillar of the bank’s investment in human capital development.
“This moment marks the beginning of a transformational journey that will shape your careers, your contributions to society, and Africa at large. The GMAP is a testament to our vision of empowering the brightest minds with the skills, knowledge, and mind-set required to navigate the ever-evolving financial landscape,” Alawuba stated.
Like other banks, large professional firms such as KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, Andersen, and other large companies in Nigeria and Africa, UBA has had its own fair share of staff leaving for the USA, Canada, UK, and other similar countries in the las few years. Majority have left for further studies, jobs, and family relocation in response to changing migration landscapes. This has left banks such as UBA the need to rebuild, revamp, and strengthen their human capital. The GMAP is thus a great strategic response to what an industry insider shared with ThinkBusiness Africa recently that most of the middle managers in the banking industry have vanished in the last few years.
During the graduation ceremony, the CEO of UBA also highlighted UBA’s commitment to gender inclusion, revealing that 58% of the graduating class (666 out of 1,138) were women—a testament to the bank’s dedication to fostering a diverse and equitable workplace.
The GMAP initiative has already produced several success stories, with alumni advancing into key roles across UBA’s 20 African markets, as well as its offices in the UK, US, France, and UAE. Since its inception three years ago, GMAP has successfully graduated 3,222 trainees across 16 cohorts. Specifically, in the last two years, the programme has inducted over 2,000 young professionals, with 700 graduates in 2023 and an additional 398 graduates in 2024.
Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa(UBA), Mr. Tony O. Elumelu; CEO, UBA Africa, Mrs Abiola Bawuah; and GMD/CEO, UBA Group, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, flanked by prize winners of the Bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme(GMAP) Class of 2025, at the graduation ceremony held for over one thousand trainees from across Africa in Lagos on Wednesday
As the latest batch of graduates embarks on their careers, UBA continues to reinforce its core values of Excellence, Enterprise, and Execution, preparing the next generation of African banking professionals for a dynamic future.
The ceremony featured inspiring testimonies from GMAP alumni who have excelled within UBA. The bank, which operates in 20 African countries as well as the UK, US, France, and UAE, remains a leader in financial inclusion, serving over 45 million customers and employing 25,000 people worldwide. As the latest batch of GMAP graduates embarks on their careers, UBA continues to reinforce its core values of Excellence, Enterprise, and Execution, preparing the next generation of African banking professionals for a
