The United Bank for Africa has inducted 398 young Africans into the UBA Tribe after a six-month hands-on-work and learning experience.

The graduands were inducted at the second edition of UBA’s Graduate Management Acceleration Programme (GMAP) class of 2024 held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

The graduands are from six African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Addressing the gathering, UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who congratulated the graduands, expressed pride and admiration for their success having completed the intense capacity-building programme of the bank.

Elumelu highlighted the bank’s passion for youth empowerment in Africa, while bridging the unemployment gap, which according to him, remains one of the greatest challenges of the continent.

He said: “For me, these young UBA graduates are a testament to who we are: a truly pan-African Group, that invests in African talent.

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“This milestone is more than just numbers. It signifies UBA’s commitment to youth empowerment.

“Unemployment is the greatest challenge we face – a tragic and cruel betrayal of a generation. We know governments alone cannot create all the jobs we need – so it is up to us, the African private sector, to partner our government in improving lives and livelihoods. This is Africapitalism, and it is gratifying to see UBA play its part.

“UBA is dedicated to creating a positive impact, through the GMAP programme UBA is creating employment, boosting economic growth, and transforming lives across Africa.

“At UBA, identifying these young ones, bringing them to the centre, training them, equipping them for the future and the task ahead, not just for a career in UBA, but wherever they end up remains our passion, because this is how we play our role as a Pan-African bank, in helping to empower the next generation, which is the African youth.

“We are helping to create employment and this for us is our driving force.”

Also speaking at the event, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, commended the graduating class for their commitment and emphasised the programme’s role in cultivating the next generation of the bank’s leaders.

The Star