Africa’s Global bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, joined the rest of the world on Friday, May 24, 2024, to mark this year’s edition of Africa Day.

The celebration which went on concurrently across all of its subsidiaries in Africa as well as in the United Kingdom, France, United States of America and the United Arab Emirates, had the underlying theme: Education Fit for the 21st Century. 

To mark the event, staff members were dressed in colourful African attire displaying the cultural diversity of the employees of the United Bank for Africa.

There were dance troupes in various offices across the continent organised by UBA subsidiaries, where staff, clients and the public were entertained with African drums and cultural dancers and choice African fruits and snacks.

A major highlight of the event was the selection of the best dressed staff across various categories, representing the diverse African culture. As voted by the staff, Chisom Augustine, emerged as the winner of the Best Indigenous Concept while Sarah Richter clinched the fan’s choice for Best Indigenous Concept (Rest of the World). Temitayo Abayomi won the jury’s choice as best dressed Nigerian staff. Several other winners also emerged across various cadre.

The bank rewarded each of the winners with various cash prizes at a glamorous closing ceremony which was held at its Head Office and replicated across other branches and subsidiaries.

UBA’s Group Head, Human Resources, Modupe Akindele, who addressed staff during the closing ceremony at the UBA Head Office in Lagos, commended staff members for their hard work over the years and noted that the annual event had become a lifestyle for the bank. 

She said, “We at UBA celebrate Africa Day with the rest of Africa. We are Africa, United by one Bank. Today is a day to remind ourselves that we have all it takes in Africa, be it fashion, talent, and creativity. The message is about being African and being proud of our heritage. We want to showcase who we are and what we have.”

Continuing, she said, “For us at UBA, identifying with Africa and indeed Africa Day is synonymous with who we are as a bank. It presents us the opportunity to remind ourselves, the world and indeed Africa that we owe ourselves the duty of making Africa the continent of our dreams.”  

UBA celebrates Africa Day annually in line with the official celebration by African nations, reiterating its long-held belief that the future belongs to the continent. Africa Day is an annual event, commemorating the birth of the African Union on May 25, 1963. It is dedicated to celebrating the diversity of the African continent, and to highlight the cultural and economic potential that exists on the continent.

The bank leverages the occasion to rekindle the African spirit that drives the UBA group’s vision to be a dominant financial services provider on the continent and its emergence as a recognisable economic power.

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.