United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has inducted 374 young professionals into its workforce following the successful completion of Cohort 21 of its Graduate Management Accelerator Programme (GMAP).

The programme is part of UBA’s talent development strategy and is designed to prepare young professionals for careers in banking through technical knowledge, practical training and hands-on experience.

With the graduation of the latest cohort, more than 5,000 young professionals have now completed the GMAP. The programme provides participants with mentorship, structured learning and practical exposure aimed at supporting their long-term career development.

The 374 graduates comprise 223 women and 151 men from UBA’s operations across eight African countries. Nigeria produced the largest number, with 345 graduates, while the remaining 29 came from the bank’s subsidiaries in Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire.

Speaking to the new graduates, UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, highlighted the growing importance of customer service as technology continues to make banking products increasingly similar.

Elumelu was responding to a question about what could distinguish UBA as technology continues to transform the banking industry. He pointed to service as a major competitive advantage.

“Products can be commoditised, but service never can, because there is always a differentiator in how you serve and how you create,” he said.

He also challenged the graduates to preserve their passion while maintaining a commitment to hard work, discipline and excellence as they progress in their careers.

UBA Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, congratulated the professionals and said their certificates should be viewed as a commissioning into the next phase of their careers rather than the end of their development.

He urged them to uphold UBA’s standards in their respective postings and to approach each responsibility with commitment and excellence.

“You came from different countries, with different experiences and disciplines, but today you have graduated as one UBA family, united by one ambition, to build Africa’s future,” Alawuba said.

Alawuba further encouraged the graduates to take advantage of opportunities to learn and develop, stressing that responsibilities that may initially seem insignificant can still provide avenues to demonstrate professionalism and a strong work ethic.

He also called on them to consistently strengthen their skills, earn and maintain trust, and turn their potential into measurable results while reflecting UBA’s core values of excellence, enterprise and execution.

The GMAP is structured as UBA’s entry route for young graduates, combining foundational banking knowledge with practical training in areas including product design, trade finance and customer experience.

The initiative is part of the bank’s wider talent development efforts to prepare a new generation of professionals for leadership responsibilities within UBA while contributing to Africa’s economic growth.

The completion of Cohort 21 adds another group of trained young professionals to UBA’s workforce across its African operations. It also strengthens the bank’s talent pipeline while giving participants practical exposure to the financial services industry.

Source: msme Africa online.