Connect with us

brand

UBA Group Dominates the 2021 Banker Awards, Wins ‘African Bank of the Year’

Published

on

….Breaks the Banker Magazine Record as it wins Best Bank in Nigeria and 12 of Its Subsidiaries Africa

Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc yet again, reaffirms its leadership position across Africa, as the bank has been globally recognised as the African Bank of the year 2021 by the Banker Magazine, a leading global finance news publication published by the Financial Times of London.

UBA’s solid financial performance, its excellent service delivery to customers and its continuous role of facilitating rapid economic growth across the African continent were some of the reasons that led to the bank being named best bank in 12 of its African subsidiaries and in Nigeria. UBA Nigeria Plc, UBA Benin, UBA Burkina Faso, UBA Cameroon, UBA Chad, UBA Congo Brazzaville, UBA Cote D’Ivoire, UBA Gabon, UBA Guinea, UBA Liberia, UBA Senegal, UBA Sierra Leone and UBA Zambia all came out top as the best banks in their respective countries.

This will not be a first for UBA. In 2020, six of its subsidiaries in Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, Chad, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Zambia were winners of the Best Bank award. This year, the UBA Group is breaking a record with its exceptional wins as African Bank of the Year and Bank of the year in 13 countries. The total 14 awards makes it the first time ever in the history of the almost 100 years of The banker, that any banking group will be clinching as many as 14 wins in a single year.

At the Virtual award ceremony which was held on December 1st 2021, the Middle East and Africa Editor for The Banker, John Everington, explained at the event that a rigorous and highly analytical process is made annually to reach the decision for each Bank of the Year award and the institution’s reputation for independence, authority and integrity is thoroughly applied to each submission.

“While several African banks impressed the judges this year, there was no doubt as to the worthiest recipient of the Bank of the Year for Africa – UBA Group – a clear winner across a wide range of criteria. UBA has performed impressively across its footprint with a strong financial performance across most of its markets,” Everington said.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Uzoka, who expressed delight over the recognition from The Banker stated “Like I always say, at UBA, we must be doing something right. Winning 14 total awards in13 subsidiaries and the Bank of the Year on the African continent is a big achievement.’

Continuing, Uzoka said, “The recognitions come as a reassurance that we are on track in consolidating our leadership position in Africa, as we continue to create superior value for all our stakeholders. We have our millions of customers across the globe and our many thousands of staff to thank for this. They are the very reason why we keep winning’

Since1926, the Bank of the Year awards has been celebrating the best of global banking and is regarded as the industry standard for banking excellence. The 2021 edition highlights those institutions that have outshone their peers in terms of performance, strategic initiatives and response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Banker Magazine is a publication of the Financial Times – a leading global finance news publication which has been in existence since 1888. The Banker magazine is the definitive reference in international banking for high level decision makers.

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-five million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points, in 20 African countries.

With presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

brand

ZENITHBANKPARTNERSLAWMA,LASWATOCOMMEMORATEWORLDENVIRONMENT DAY 2026 WITH TWO-PHASE LAGOS CLEAN-UP

Published

on

Inlinewithitscommitmenttoenvironmentalsustainabilityandresponsiblebusinesspractices,
ZenithBankPlchascommemoratedthe2026WorldEnvironmentDaywithatwo-phase
environmental clean-up initiative in LagosState, held under theglobal theme “Inspired by Nature.
For Climate. For Our Future.”
The first phase was a morning clean-upconducted by staff of the Bank on Wednesday,3 June
2026, along Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The exercise mobilised employees to
clear waste, sensitise residents on proper disposal practices, and reinforce the Bank’s culture of
community service and environmental stewardship.
Thesecondphase,onThursday,4June2026,featuredawaterwaysclean-upattheFalomo
Waterways, Ikoyi, Lagos, executed in collaboration with the Lagos Waste Management Authority
(LAWMA)andtheLagosStateWaterwaysAuthority(LASWA).Thejointeffortfocusedon
removingmarinedebris,promotingcleanerwaterways,andsupportingtheState’sbroader
climate-resilience agenda.
Speakingontheinitiative,DameDr.AdaoraUmeoji,OON,GroupManagingDirector/CEOof
Zenith Bank Plc, said: “At Zenith Bank, sustainability is integral to how we operate. Clearing our
streetsandourwaterwaysisapracticalreminderthatprotectingtheenvironmentisashared
responsibility – and one we are proud to take up alongside LAWMA and LASWA. Through these
exercises, we aretaking deliberate action topreserve our communities,support climate action,
andinspireotherstoact.Ouroperationswillcontinuetoalignwithglobalenvironmental
standards as we build a more sustainable future for Nigeria and Africa.”
ZenithBankremainscommittedtoembeddingEnvironmental,SocialandGovernance(ESG)
principles across its operations, investing in green initiatives, energy efficiency, and community-
focused programmes. These efforts advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
–particularlySDG7(AffordableandCleanEnergy),SDG11(SustainableCitiesand
Communities)andSDG13(ClimateAction).Sustainabilityremainsanoperationalimperative
across the Bank’s Nigerian base and its broader African, UK and European footprints
Continue Reading

brand

ZENITH BANK RENEWS COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN WITH EDUCATION, INCLUSION & OPPORTUNITY AT THE CORE

Published

on

  • Much more than commemorating the annual Children’s Day marked every May 27, Zenith Bank Plc is championing the
    narrativethatchildrenarethetrueleadersoftomorrow.TheBankhasdeepeneditsinvestmentincarefullycurated
    initiativesthatelevatechildrenacrosseducation,financialliteracy,health,digitalinclusion,andsocialprotection,
    building a generation equipped to thrive and lead. For Zenith Bank, every child matters, and the Bank’s footprint reflects
    a deliberate, pan-African strategy to nurture potential from the earliest age.
    Zenith Bank has been the financial institution partner to Kiddies Corner on Inspiration 92.3FM Lagos for over three
    years, anchoring the Tuesday edition and Zenith Financial Literacy Friday show. The programme blends spelling bee
    contestswithfinancialliteracyquestions,creatingawarenessandonboardingchildrenintotheZenithChildren’s
    Account (ZECA). This partnership came alive at the Inspiration FM Children’s Day Carnival on Saturday, May 23, 2026,
    whereZenithBankhostedover1,000childrenandtheirparents,celebratingZECAwinnerswithgames,skits,and
    Zenith Bank branded gifts.
    The Bank’s Zenith Financial Literacy Week, held quarterly, takes this mission into select schools across all 36 states
    andtheFCT.Studentsaretrainedonsavings,budgeting,basicinvestments,anditsretailproducts,withthetop
    performer in each school awarded N50,000. Complementing this is the Bank’s nationwide Financial Literacy Program
    undertheCBN-mandatedGlobalMoneyWeek,whichin2025alonereached3,622studentsacross22LGAs,
    deploying 137 bank employee volunteers as educators.
    In alignment with the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on Quality Education, Zenith Bank
    hasdonatedstate-of-the-artICTcentresandcomputersystemstoschoolsanduniversitiesnationwide,includinga
    ComputerCentretoBamainaAcademy,Dutse,JigawaState.Itstransformativeinterventionsincludefullyequipped
    libraries,vocationalfacilities,andlarge-scaleschoolrenovations,fromOjotaSecondarySchoolandVictoriaIsland
    Secondary School in Lagos to Hugallawa Primary School in Jigawa. Targeted financial support further breaks barriers
    with N1 million cash donation to Louisville Girls High School, Ijebu-Itele, supporting girl-child education; infrastructure
    upgrades at Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School; a N1 million scholarship endowment for St. Francis Catholic
    Secondary School; and support for the North-East Children’s Fund to aid education in conflict-affected communities.
    Through its Primary Healthcare Centre Initiative across all 774 LGAs, Zenith Bank educates parents on early childhood
    savings during routine visits, linking health and financial well-being. The “PAD-A-QUEEN” Initiative commemorates the
    International Day of the Girl Child, reaching5,000 girls in 10 schools withsanitary pads, hygiene kits, and menstrual
    health education to keep girls in school and promote SDGs 3, 4, and 5.
    The Bank’s compassion extends to the most vulnerable. At Bethesda Home and School for the Blind, Idi Oro, Lagos,
    Zenith donatedbraille materials,food, and toiletries.For the2026 InternationalDay forStreet Children,it partneredwith
    Bosco Child Protection Centre on medical check-ups, food, clothing, and counseling. Annual Christmas Charity Visits to
    orphanagesdelivercash,toys,andessentialsupplies,whilesupportfortheSmileandShineChildrenFoundation’s
    Strive Conference empowers over 2,000 adolescents with life skills and leadership training.
    Commenting on the Bank’s intentionality towards the development of children, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, Group
    Managing Director/CEO, ZenithBank Plc, said, “AtZenith Bank, weare deliberate about initiativesthat elevate children
    becausetheyarenotjustourfuture,theyareourpresentresponsibility.AsWhitneyHoustonsopoignantlysang,‘I
    believethechildrenarethefuture,teachthemwellandletthemleadtheway.’Thatisthephilosophydrivingour
    investmentsineducation,financialliteracy,health,anddigitalinclusion.FromKiddiesCornertoICTcentres,from
    PHCs to orphanages, we are teaching them well, equipping them early, and giving them the tools to lead. Zenith Bank
    renews its commitment to every Nigerian child, to nurture their dreams, protect their dignity, and secure their tomorrow.”
    Championing youth expression, the Zenith Annual Youth Parade, hosted by the Bank for 19 years, stands as a flagship
    Corporate Social Responsibilityinitiative. Bringing togetherthousands of childrenand teenagers in avibrant showcase
    of unity and discipline, the parade has remained dedicated since inception to the vital mission of supporting, nurturing,
  • andempoweringtheNigerianchild,reinforcingtheBank’sbeliefthatleadershipislearnedearlythroughteamwork,
    confidence, and celebration of young Nigerian identity.
    ForZenithBank,Children’sDayismorethanadateonthecalendar.Itisadailypledgetoempower,protect,and
    prepareNigeria’schildrenforleadership.Fromclassroomstocommunities, the Bank’s initiatives are teaching them well
    and letting them lead the way because the future belongs to children who are equipped today.
Continue Reading

brand

ZENITH BANK APPOINTS ENGR. MUSTAFA BELLO AS CHAIRMAN AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Published

on

Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Engr. Mustafa Bello as the Chairman of its Board of
Directors.Theappointment,whichtakesimmediateeffect,hasbeenapprovedbytheCentralBankof
Nigeria (CBN) and ratified by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on May 5, 2026.
Engr.Bello’sappointmentrepresentsastrategicsteptoensurethecontinuity,stability,andsustained
effectivenessoftheBoard,whilereinforcingthehighstandardsofcorporategovernance,regulatory
compliance,andstrategicoversightforwhichZenithBankiswidelyrespected.HejoinedtheBoardof
Zenith Bank Plc on 29 December 2017 and has served on several Board committees, including the Board
Audit and Compliance Committee, Board Governance, Nomination and Renumeration Committee and as
Chairman of theBoard RiskManagementCommitteeuntilhisappointmentasChairmanof theBoardof
Directors.
He has extensive leadership experience at Board and executive levels, a strong understanding of corporate
governanceprinciplesandregulatoryexpectations,andaproventrackrecordinstrategicoversightand
organisationalgrowth.Hehasconsistentlydemonstratedintegrity,independenceandsoundjudgement,
qualities that distinguished him as the natural choice to lead the Board into its next chapter.
Engr. Mustafa Bello is a distinguished engineer, statesman and corporate leader. His career spans more
than four decades across the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy. He served as Minister of
CommerceoftheFederalRepublicofNigeriafrom1999to2002underPresidentOlusegunObasanjo,
GCFR,whereheledthedevelopmentofNigeria’sWTO-consistentTradePolicy.Healsooversawthe
CorporateAffairsCommission(CAC)onlineprojectof2002,whichmodernisedthewaybusinesses
registerandoperateinthecountry.FromNovember2003toFebruary2014,heservedasExecutive
Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Investments Promotion Commission (NIPC), where
hewasinstrumentalinattractingforeigndirectinvestmentintoNigeria,buildingmultilateralandbilateral
partnerships, and representing the Federal Government at international conferences and missions.
HegraduatedfromAhmaduBelloUniversity(ABU),Zaria,in1978withaB.Engr.inCivilEngineering
(SecondClassUpperDivision),winningtheShellPrizeforthebestprojectandthesisintheFacultyof
Engineering.HebeganhiscareerwiththeNigerianArmy’sDirectorateofQuarteringandEngineering
Service from 1978 to 1979, before joining the Niger State Housing Corporation as a Senior Civil Engineer
from 1980 to 1983.
HeiscurrentlytheChairmanofInvest-in-NorthernNigeriaLimited,aspecialpurposevehicleforthe
economic and social transformation of the Northern Nigerian economy, and has previously served on the
boards of Eskom Holdings Limited of the Republic of South Africa (2004 to 2008) and FrieslandCampina
WAMCO Nigeria Plc as an Independent Non-Executive Director. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of
Engineers and a Registered Member of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) as
well as Fellow of the Academy of Natural Sciences & Engineering in Nigeria (ANSEN).
Zenith Bank stands among Africa’s leading financial institutions, with a strong capital base and operations
acrossNigeria,theUnitedKingdom,theUnitedArabEmirates,Ghana,SierraLeone,TheGambiaand
Côte d’Ivoire.
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 Newsthumb Magazine | All rights reserved