THE United Bank for Africa (UBA) Holdings has reaffirmed its commitment to grooming Africa’s next generation of business leaders through its Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP), a flagship talent development initiative designed to identify, train, and empower young professionals across the continent.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the latest GMAP cohort in Lagos, the Chairman of UBA Holdings, Tony Elumelu, charged the graduates to be inspired by the bank’s broader vision of driving prosperity and transformation across Africa.
“Congratulations to you all. I’m honoured to be your chairman,” Elumelu said. “Those of you who are at the board level, we derive our energy from those of you who are here. We want to ensure that we pass the baton in a stronger and healthier state.”
He noted that UBA’s commitment goes beyond profitability, stressing the institution’s growing global recognition as a force for impact and innovation.
“A few days ago, we launched the UBA White Paper at the World Bank in Washington—an unprecedented feat for an African financial institution. It’s something that makes every one of us proud,” he added.
Elumelu encouraged the new entrants to be innovative and bold in their ideas. “As you come into UBA, anything you believe is good to transform not just our business but our continent, share it with us. We are receptive to new ideas. We are all equal in this journey.”
The Head of Human Resources at UBA, Mrs. Modupe Akindele, described the GMAP as a visionary project initiated by the Group Chairman to ensure sustainable leadership and succession planning across the bank’s pan-African network.
“The GMAP was conceived to capture Africa’s young talent and begin to build character and leadership potential early,” she said, adding: “Our goal is to identify people who can innovate, create, and elevate banking to new levels.”
According to Akindele, the programme’s recruitment process is rigorous, involving multiple stages — from aptitude assessments to workplace simulations and executive interviews — designed to identify candidates who are not only academically capable but also adaptable and emotionally intelligent.
Successful applicants undergo a six-month intensive programme combining classroom instruction and on-the-job training across various departments. Only those who meet the demanding standards graduate and are absorbed into the bank.
“So far, over 7,000 participants have successfully joined UBA through this programme,” Akindele revealed. “They are the future leaders who will take UBA’s vision of value creation for Africa to the next level.”
