The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Holdings has reiterated its dedication to nurturing the next generation of African business leaders through its Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP), a flagship initiative aimed at equipping young professionals with the skills, mindset, and leadership capacity to drive transformation across the continent.
During the graduation ceremony of the latest GMAP cohort in Lagos, the Chairman of UBA Holdings, Tony Elumelu, commended the graduates for their resilience and commitment, urging them to embody the bank’s vision of fostering prosperity in Africa. He reminded them that leadership at UBA is built on shared values of innovation, integrity, and impact.
“Congratulations to you all. I’m honoured to be your chairman,” Elumelu said. “Those of us at the board derive our energy from you. We want to ensure that we pass the baton in a stronger and healthier state.”
He emphasized that UBA’s mission goes beyond profitability, highlighting the bank’s increasing recognition as a global force for innovation and sustainable development. “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 said.
Elumelu encouraged the new employees to be creative and bold, stressing that every idea that can improve the bank or positively impact Africa is welcome. “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.”
Speaking at the event, the Head of Human Resources, Modupe Akindele, described GMAP as a visionary project initiated by the Group Chairman to ensure leadership continuity and succession planning across UBA’s pan-African network. She explained that the programme was designed to identify young African talents, nurture their potential, and prepare them for key leadership roles within the organization.
“The GMAP was conceived to capture Africa’s young talent and begin to build character and leadership potential early,” she said. “Our goal is to identify people who can innovate, create, and elevate banking to new levels.”
According to her, the recruitment process for GMAP is highly competitive, involving aptitude tests, simulations, and executive interviews to select candidates who demonstrate strong analytical ability, emotional intelligence, and leadership potential.
Participants undergo a rigorous six-month training programme that combines classroom learning with on-the-job exposure across different business units of the bank. Only those who meet the high performance standards graduate and are absorbed into UBA’s workforce.
“So far, over 7,000 participants have successfully joined UBA through this programme,” Akindele disclosed. “They are the future leaders who will take UBA’s vision of value creation for Africa to the next level.”
Through GMAP and other development initiatives, UBA continues to strengthen its role as a major driver of talent development and economic empowerment across Africa, reaffirming its commitment to building a new generation of leaders who will shape the continent’s financial and business future.
