The Bankers Awards 2023: UBA crowned Africa’s Bank of The Year.

The leading Pan-African financial institution last Thursday November 30, clinched nine prestigious international awards for its consistent excellence in the financial services sector.

The prestigious awards were presented to the Bank at a ceremony in London, United Kingdom. 

The UBA Group was declared winner of the coveted Bank of The Year at The Bankers Awards 2023, widely recognised as a benchmark for banking excellence globally. 

The Bankers Awards, it should be said, is organised by The Banker Magazine, a publication of the world’s leading business newspaper, Financial Times of London. 

UBA’s Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, received the awards on behalf of the financial institution. The ceremony was hosted by Krishnan Guru. 

Other UBA Group officials at the event included the CEO, UBA United Kingdom (UK), Theresa Henshaw; Non-Executive Director of UBA UK, Alex Trotter; Head, Human Resources at UBA UK, Chika Patrick; Chief Finance Officer, UBA UK, Deji Adeyelure; Chief Technical Officer; UBA UK, Richard Ola; Head Trade Finance, UBA UK, Shaheen Butt; Head of Compliance, UBA UK, Alex Alves.

UBA Group subsidiaries win big 

Aside emerging as Bank of The Year at the 2023 awards, UBA Group’s subsidiaries also emerged as the best Bank in eight of the 20 countries where it operates in Africa. 

The winning subsidiaries included UBA Cameroon, UBA Chad, UBA Ghana, UBA Cote d’Ivoire, UBA Mozambique, UBA Congo, UBA Sierra Leone, and UBA Tanzania.

The huge win by eight of the subsidiaries, UBA officials noted, underscores the bank’s dominance and impact across diverse African markets. 

The recent, it should be noted, is the second time in the past three years that the UBA has won the regional award as the best bank in Africa, as it had emerged winner in 2021.

Since 1926, the Bank of the Year awards has been celebrating the best of global banking and is regarded as the industry standard for banking excellence.

L-R: Financial Times Africa Editor, John Everingon & UBA Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba brandishing Bank of the Year Africa 2023 

UBA’s consistent excellent services hailed 

Speaking during the event, Editor of The Banker, Joy Macknight, hailed UBA’s consistent excellence in the financial services sector across the continent which he said has earned the Bank great accolades overtime.

Macknight said that as always, UBA remains a clear winner across a wide range of criteria, having performed impressively across its footprint with a strong financial performance across most of its markets.

“In a year of strong competition among the continent’s major banking groups, UBA has gained the edge on its rivals to win the Bank of the Year award for Africa for the 2nd time in three years. Congratulations. The award recognises the bank’s strength across Africa, including many of its most competitive markets,” Macknight stated.

Award reassurance UBA on track in consolidating leadership position

UBA’s Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, who received the awards on behalf of the bank, expressed his gratitude and excitement about the awards.

Alawuba said the recognitions come as a reassurance that the bank is on track in its goal of consolidating its leadership position in Africa, and creating superior value for its stakeholders. 

"UBA is honoured to be named the Bank of the Year in these eight countries and to receive the overall Award for Africa. This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovative spirit of the entire UBA team. We remain committed to delivering top-notch banking services that positively impact the lives of our customers across the continent,” UBA Group Managing Director

Alawuba added: “We have our millions of customers across the globe and our many thousands of staff to thank for this. They are the very reason why we keep winning and receiving these accolades”.

UBA's multiple victories at The Banker Awards which is widely recognised as a benchmark for banking excellence globally, Alawuba said, underscores the institution's commitment to providing exceptional financial services and superior financial intermediation on the continent. 

Alawuba said Africa’s Bank of the Year, UBA has demonstrated its ability to navigate the complexities of the African banking landscape and emerge as a leading force in driving economic growth and financial inclusion.

L-R: Financial Times Africa Editor, John Everingon; Non-Executive Director, UBA UK, Alex Trotter; Head, Human Resources, UBA UK, Chika Patrick; Chief Finance Officer, UBA UK, Deji Adeyelure; Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba; CEO, UBA UK, Theresa Henshaw; Chief Technical Officer; UBA UK, Richard Ola; Head Trade Finance, UBA UK, Shaheen Butt; Head of Compliance, UBA UK, Alex Alves; and Ceremony Host, Krishnan Guru at The Bankers Awards 2023

Awards testament to UBA’s impressive capital strength

UBA Group, it should be said, just recently won the 2023 FMDQ Gold Awards in three Categories including the Best FX Liquidity Provider, Dealing Institution of the Year and Best Money Market Liquidity Provider. 

These recognitions, Bank’s officials stated, is a testament to UBA’s impressive capital strength and capacity to provide liquidity to the Nigerian financial market even in the face of harsh economic realities. 

Despite the headwinds, UBA Group, officials added, has consistently maintained its position as Nigeria's leading financial institution.

In June, the banking group announced impressive half-year financial results, and further increased the performance in Quarter 3, 2023, with Profit Before Tax, PBT, soared to N502.01 billion, Shareholders' Funds standing strong at N1.778 trillion, and total assets, reaching N16.24 trillion.

These outstanding figures, officials added, not only reflect UBA’s institutional strength, but also demonstrate its position as a corporate role model in Nigeria and across Africa.

About UBA Group 

United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than thirty-five million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. 

With presence in New York, London, Paris, and Dubai, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.