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Tag: UBA

  • UBA Group lifts Africa-Europe trade with UK operations

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group has launched  in the United Kingdom (UK) to promote trade and commerce between Europe and Africa.

    The UBA UK franchise was opened three weeks after the global lender opened its subsidiary in Mali.

    The event attracted high-level gathering of business and public sector leaders to The Shard in the city of London.

    The launch followed the authorisation of the Prudential Regulation Authority(PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority(FCA) for UBA UK Limited to carry out full scale wholesale banking across the UK.

    The UBA UK,  previously named UBA Capital (Europe), offers treasury services, cash management, correspondent banking, corporate lending and wholesale deposit products to professionals and eligible counter-parties.

    It also provides structured and trade finance, issuance, acceptance, confirmation and refinancing of Letters of Credit of different variations among others.

    With this launch, UBA Group further consolidates its unique positioning as a Sub-Saharan African financial institution with banking operations in both the United Kingdom and the United States. This reinforces its strong franchise as Africa’s Global Bank, facilitating trade and capital flows between Africa and the world.

    UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu said the Group is excited by the authorisation of the relevant regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom for UBA to upgrade its operation and further fulfill its aspiration of deepening trade and investments flows between Africa and Europe.

    “The enhancement of our business in the United Kingdom is very timely and mutually beneficial for African and European corporates as well as respective governments. With the British and other European governments seeking new and improved measures to grow trade relations with Africa, we are enthusiastic on our positioning and capabilities in supporting corporates and government institutions to fulfill these lofty aspirations, which we believe are pertinent for the sustainable growth of both continents.”

    Elumelu expressed that he is extremely pleased as UBA is living up to its mantra of being Africa’s global bank and positioning itself to support investors in key financial centres across the world.

    The Group Managing Director/CEO,  Kennedy Uzoka, noted: “UBA Group is the most efficient gateway for European corporates and institutions to access Africa, given the bank’s expansive network across most impact markets on the continent and its deep knowledge of the business terrains in Africa.’’

    According to him, “Simultaneously, we are serving the trade and capital needs of our African customers, who are seeking exposure to the European markets. With the upgrade of UBA UK Limited, we are excited to deepen our support to existing customers whilst also providing the leverage for new customers to effectively fulfill their cross-border transactions through UBA Group’s network.”

    On his part, the CEO, UBA UK, Patrick Gutmann, said: “We are on a stronger footing, as the authorisation of the PRA and FCA for an enhanced business model affords us the opportunity to swell our capital and balance sheet as well as the broader UBA Group’s network across Africa. We welcome our existing and new customers to this new world of borderless opportunities, as we creatively serve our customers in meeting their international transaction needs.”

    Some of the guests at the event were Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote, President, Afreximbank,  Benedict Oramah, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, H. E. Shaukat Aziz, among others.

  • Google, UBA partner on free internet

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has partnered with Google to launch Google Station in 11 of the bank’s branches in Lagos.

    Google Station, a platform for providing free, high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots in public places, began in Lagos last year, and extended to Abuja in December in partnership with Backbone Connectivity Network.

    This google-powered initiative would allow customers access to internet connectivity within the 11 branches and its environs, thereby facilitating their day-to-day businesses and activities, while ensuring unhindered connectivity.

    The 11 branches where the hotspot will be located are: UBA Bank Road, 810-811 Bank Road, Daleko; UBA Matori, 21 Fatai Atere street; UBA Surulere, 152 Ogunlana Drive; UBA Allen, 13 Allen Avenue, Ikeja; UBA Tisco Plaza, Alausa; UBA Apapa, 11-13 Warehouse Road, Apapa; UBA Marina, 55 Marina, Lagos Island; UBA HQ, Broad Street, Marina; UBA Lekki Admiralty; UBA Oke Arin and UBA Aspamda Plaza, Trade Fair.

    At the official launch which took place in UBA’s Head Office on Wednesday, UBA’s Executive Director/ Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chuks Nweke, expressed UBA’s excitement over the collaboration, adding that the move will go a long way to present opportunities far beyond the imagination of both organisations.

    He noted that the challenges of financial inclusion which the USSD platform has not been able to solve will be eased through the Google Station, as the financially excluded will now be able to access the internet and enjoy the services provided free of charge.

    He said, “It is an interesting platform which will ultimately benefit everyone. It is a win-win for everyone. Customers will have ease of doing businesses, especially with the growing use of smart phones, and the 52 million Nigerians who have otherwise been financially excluded will now have access to data through this collaboration and can carry out their transactions with ease.

    Google Nigeria’s Country Director, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor noted that the institutions remained focused on providing internet services to users for free.

    She said, “With the help of our partners, we are offering high-quality internet access in heavily-trafficked areas like airports, markets, malls and bus stations throughout the country, especially in areas where there were no internet connections before.

    “Even with the amazing progress on expanding mobile internet, we are finding that public Wi-Fi remains a crucial step in getting free, high quality internet to everyone,” she explained.

  • UBA begins operation in Mali

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has commenced banking operations in Mali, extending its footprint and fulfilling the aspiration of deepening banking penetration in Africa.

    The launch of UBA Mali  brings to 20, the number of African countries, where the Group currently operates, with global operations in the United States, United Kingdom and France.

    The launch of the bank’s latest addition in Mali was occasioned by his Excellency, the President of the Republic of Mali, Ibrahim Aboubacar Keita who gave an unprecedented speech at the opening ceremony. ‘Tony promised it and he did it’, said the President, referring to UBA Group’s Chairman, Tony Elumelu on his promise made several years ago to bring UBA to Mali. The Malian president praised UBA Group for the vision to expand the bank’s footprint to Mali.

    He commended the tenacity and commitment of UBA and its Group Chairman to the development of the continent, calling African financial  institutions to follow the developmental philosophy of the bank and its chairman in   growing  infrastructure, deepening financial inclusion and being catalysts for eradicating poverty in Africa.

    In his response as he welcomed the  dignitaries and all stakeholders present at the launch,  Elumelu, asserted UBA’s sustainability principles and philosophy. “UBA is Africa’s global bank, a leading pan-African brand, committed to democratising banking on the continent. We are progressive partners for African corporates, institutions and governments whilst also helping to fulfill the financial aspirations of individual customers. Our train has finally arrived in Mali. We are here for mutual progress; we are here for shared prosperity”. Elumelu noted.

    Group Managing Director, UBA Plc, Kennedy Uzoka, expressed his enthusiasm on the Group’s operation in Mali, saying ‘We are in Mali to offer world class financial services that will surpass the expectations of our customers. I assure you that UBA is poised to deliver excellent services to the entire population of Mali’ he posited.

    CEO, UBA Mali, Alhassane Sissoko told customers that the Bank is  optimistic on the competitiveness of its  franchise in Mali with strong potentials for  accelerated market share gain over the near to medium term. He re-assured private and public sector players of good things to come. “The advent of UBA in Mali marks a turning point in the history of the Malian banking sector with new opportunities for businesses and individuals.

  • UBA in Mali

    THE United Bank for Africa (UBA) will open a new branch in Mali on February 4, to expand in a region where it already operates in a dozen countries.

    “Mali is a large market with a low (bank) account penetration rate,” Maimouna El Oumrany, spokeswoman  for UBA’s Malian subsidiary, told Reuters. “We’re hoping to do better than the 13 banks already established in the country.”

    El Oumrany said UBA’s strategy in Mali, a landlocked country on the edge of the Sahara, was focused on digital products that clients could access from their smartphones.

    UBA, one of Nigeria’s largest banks with more than 700 branches, has subsidiaries across Africa in countries such as  Ghana and Ivory Coast in the west, Kenya and Uganda in the east and Mozambique and Zambia in the south.

    It also has offices in London, Paris and New York.

  • UBA, Japan Trade Office to lift SMEs, tackle poverty

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) yesterday agreed to work together in promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) growth in Africa.

    The Chairman, UBA Group, Tony Elumelu and JETRO CEO, Hiroyuki Ishige met at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos where they agreed to promote SMEs and alleviate poverty in Africa.

    The meeting was attended by other bank executives and Japanese businessmen who were hosted at a cocktail at the UBA House, in Lagos, Nigeria.

    Elumelu who welcomed the guests, noted that the deliberations had earlier begun in Davos, Switzerland, adding that like UBA, JETRO shared the passion for transforming lives and helping to build businesses and trade across the world.

    According to Elumelu, “When global leaders visit a country, they bring global attention. These investors who came from Davos have seen Nigeria as a business destination and have come to the country for the first time to visit us and see how things work here. The fact is that we all share the same passion to help transform lives and businesses around the world’.

    Continuing, Elumelu said to the Japanese delegation, “We are aware of the various investments you have made recently to develop Africa and African businesses and this is what we also stand for at UBA, developing enterprises across the African continent. We believe that this visit will mark  significant milestones and progress as we work towards empowering the youths and small and medium scale businesses.”

  • Uba to constituents: you won’t regret voting for me

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Anambra South Chris Uba, has begged the people of Ekwusigo and Ihiala Local Government Areas to vote for him, saying they will not regret doing so.

    Uba, who spoke yesterday when he met with 45 ward executives in the two councils, said he needed their votes to rescue them.

    He added that those who had gone to the red chamber before now from the zone had failed their people.

    “My mission to the Senate will not be to amass wealth, but to bring the goodies that have eluded the zone before now to you.”

    Read also: Uba: I will rescue Anambra South from poor representation

    Party chairman in the zone Sam Anyakora told the people that Uba needed no campaigns having made governors, senators, House of Representatives and House of Assembly members before now.

    He said the people of Anambra South owe him a lot, adding that other parties should forget Ihiala and Ekwusigo in the elections.

    The lawmaker representing Ihiala Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Emeka Anohu, and Onyebuchi Offor, who represents Ekwusigo in the House of Assembly, said the people had made their choice in Uba.

     

  • Uba: I will rescue Anambra South from poor representation

    THE candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Anambra South senatorial race, Chief Chris Uba, says he is in the contest to rescue his people from the poor representation they have witnessed over the years.

    Uba who spoke at Orumba North, Orumba South and Ihiala town hall meetings at Umunze, Ajalli and Ihiala respectively said no body in Anambra State had contested any election without his support, including governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives and those of the state House of Assembly since 1999.

    The PDP candidate said he came to contest the seat in anger, because those who had represented his people had failed in their duties by abandoning them, saying “enough is enough”.

    He urged the people to stop selling their votes and conscience, because the time to rescue them is now. “You told me to come out and I have complied with your wishes,” he added.

    Uba who is widely regarded as the godfather of Anambra politics said those who were there today were not experienced than me in politics. He added that they would never regret sending him to Senate.

    He said: “If voted into power, I would work with any president without antagonizing him. After my tenure, no person would have the courage to come out to contest again, because of the record I would set at the Senate.

    “Fear not, I have the resources for this election. I have the brain; I have the connection and I have the capacity to become your senator.

    “I’m ready for this fight and ready to give my constituents what they had lacked in many years and I’m ready to sign an agreement with Orumba North and Orumba South Local Government areas to show my seriousness in this election.”

    Uba said he would visit all the seven local government areas that make up Anambra South. He added that the town hall meeting is the first step and that it would be followed by main rallies this week.

    At Ihiala, the PDP candidate said he was not going to the Senate to amass wealth, but to help the widows, the needy and other less-privileged people in the society.

    Addressing a mammoth crowd in the town, Uba told the people that he would make sure all the things due to Ihiala would get to them.

  • UBA gives N30m to 20 Wise Savers promo winners

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) on Tuesday gave N30 million to 20 customers that emerged winners at the first quarterly draw of the ongoing UBA Wise Savers promo.

    The promo, which runs for one year, will see another 60 customers winning N90 million in the three remaining quarters of the year. This will bring  the total wins to N120 million by 80 customers at the end of the promo.

    The electronic raffle draw that produced the winners was conducted at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, and witnessed by the Consumer Protection Council , National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Lagos State Lottery, Board. The representatives of the institutions were  present when the winners were contacted by telephone.

    The winners, who cut across all regions of the country, are Nnadumije, Ebube Dawn; Onwochei Christiana Okwukwe; Eze Mathias Nnaji; Christian N Orie; Uka, Okwudiri; Okata Stephen Uche; Okafor Onyinye Esther; Nwanekezi Chimezie Jude; Ayomide V Yahaya and Olanegan, Oyetunde Keji among others.

    Speaking during the event, Group Executive, Digital & Consumer Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc,  Anant Rao, said the lender gives priority to its customers and that the promo was a way of encouraging them to save more. He said that 425,000 customers were qualified for the draw from which 30 winners emerged.

    “We encourage people to continue to save for rainy day,” he said.

    Rao said the bank remained committed to rewarding its loyal customers and promoting savings culture among the populace.

    Head, Retail Liabilities, UBA Plc, Tomiwa Sotiloye explained that to qualify for the Wise Savers Promo, new and existing customers of the bank are expected to make a N10,000 monthly deposit into their UBA savings account for three consecutive months before each draw date.

    Sotiloye added that the customer can also make a one-time deposit of at least N30,000 saved for 90 days within the same period.

    “Make a monthly deposit of N10,000 for three consecutive months or a one-time deposit of N30,000 into your UBA savings account and save for three months to qualify for the quarterly raffle draws. The promo is open to new and existing customers,” Sotiloye said.

  • Uba: I’ll rescue Anambra South from poor representation

    THE candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Anambra South senatorial race, Chief Chris Uba, says he is in the contest to rescue his people from the poor representation they have witnessed over the years.

    Uba who spoke at Orumba North, Orumba South and Ihiala town hall meetings at Umunze, Ajalli and Ihiala respectively said no body in Anambra State had contested any election without his support, including governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives and those of the state House of Assembly since 1999.

    The PDP candidate said he came to contest the seat in anger, because those who had represented his people had failed in their duties by abandoning them, saying “enough is enough”.

    He urged the people to stop selling their votes and conscience, because the time to rescue them is now. “You told me to come out and I have complied with your wishes,” he added.

    Uba who is widely regarded as the godfather of Anambra politics said those who were there today were not experienced than me in politics. He added that they would never regret sending him to Senate.

    He said: “If voted into power, I would work with any president without antagonizing him. After my tenure, no person would have the courage to come out to contest again, because of the record I would set at the Senate.

    “Fear not, I have the resources for this election. I have the brain; I have the connection and I have the capacity to become your senator.

    “I’m ready for this fight and ready to give my constituents what they had lacked in many years and I’m ready to sign an agreement with Orumba North and Orumba South Local Government areas to show my seriousness in this election.”

    Uba said he would visit all the seven local government areas that make up Anambra South. He added that the town hall meeting is the first step and that it would be followed by main rallies this week.

    At Ihiala, the PDP candidate said he was not going to the Senate to amass wealth, but to help the widows, the needy and other less-privileged people in the society.

    Addressing a mammoth crowd in the town, Uba told the people that he would make sure all the things due to Ihiala would get to them.

  • UBA gives N30m to 20 Wise Savers promo winners

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) on Tuesday gave N30 million to 20 customers that emerged winners at the first quarterly draw of the ongoing UBA Wise Savers promo.

    The promo, which runs for one year, will see another 60 customers winning N90 million in the three remaining quarters of the year. This will bring  the total wins to N120 million by 80 customers at the end of the promo.

    The electronic raffle draw that produced the winners was conducted at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, and witnessed by the Consumer Protection Council , National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Lagos State Lottery, Board. The representatives of the institutions were  present when the winners were contacted by telephone.

    The winners, who cut across all regions of the country, are Nnadumije, Ebube Dawn; Onwochei Christiana Okwukwe; Eze Mathias Nnaji; Christian N Orie; Uka, Okwudiri; Okata Stephen Uche; Okafor Onyinye Esther; Nwanekezi Chimezie Jude; Ayomide V Yahaya and Olanegan, Oyetunde Keji among others.

    Speaking during the event, Group Executive, Digital & Consumer Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc,  Anant Rao, said the lender gives priority to its customers and that the promo was a way of encouraging them to save more. He said that 425,000 customers were qualified for the draw from which 30 winners emerged.

    “We encourage people to continue to save for rainy day,” he said.

    Rao said the bank remained committed to rewarding its loyal customers and promoting savings culture among the populace.

    Head, Retail Liabilities, UBA Plc, Tomiwa Sotiloye explained that to qualify for the Wise Savers Promo, new and existing customers of the bank are expected to make a N10,000 monthly deposit into their UBA savings account for three consecutive months before each draw date.

    Sotiloye added that the customer can also make a one-time deposit of at least N30,000 saved for 90 days within the same period.

    “Make a monthly deposit of N10,000 for three consecutive months or a one-time deposit of N30,000 into your UBA savings account and save for three months to qualify for the quarterly raffle draws. The promo is open to new and existing customers,” Sotiloye said.