UBA Names Alabuwa As New GMD, Appoints DMD, Eds

United Bank for Africa has announced the appointment of Oliver Alawuba as the new group managing director as it named four others as executive directors on its board. The appointment is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Alabuwa’s appointment which became effective on Monday, August 1, 2022 will see him overseeing all the Group’s banking operations across its twenty African country network and globally in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates.

The bank also announced the appointment of Muyiwa Akinyemi, as deputy managing director, Sola Yomi-Ajayi, executive director, Treasury and International Banking, Ugochukwu Nwagodoh, executive director, Finance and Risk Management,Mr. Alex Alozie, Executive Director and Group Chief Operating Officer and Ms. Emem Usoro, Executive Director, North Bank.

Oliver Alawuba who replaces Kennedy Uzoka joined UBA in 1997 and has held a series of senior positions, including as the chief executive of UBA Ghana, the chief executive of UBA, Africa and most recently, as group deputy managing director.

UBA group chairman, Tony Elumelu, stated ‘I am very pleased to announce Oliver Alawuba as the new group managing director of the UBA Group. Oliver has extensive experience in Nigeria and our African network and is well equipped to advance our pan-African and global strategy.

“I have no doubt that Oliver will build on the legacy of Kennedy Uzoka, who has exemplified transformational leadership by championing a customer-first philosophy; launching our twentieth operation in Africa, UBA Mali; acquiring a wholesale banking licence for UBA UK in the United Kingdom; and opening our fourth global operation, UBA Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates”.

Alawuba, on his part expressed his commitment to his new role as group managing director saying “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this great institution and would like to thank the UBA group chairman and the members of the board of directors for the confidence they have put in me to deliver the mandate.”

The newly appointed DMD, Akinyemi, joined UBA in 1998, as a senior banking officer in UBA’s Energy Bank, and has served the Group in Nigeria and our broader Africa network for 24 years.

Also, executive director, Treasury and International Banking, Yomi-Ajayi, has been with the Group since 2004 and has considerable international experience, culminating in her appointment as CEO of UBA America.

Nwagodoh, who was appointed executive director, Finance and Risk Management, joined the Group from PwC in October 2004. He has since held a series of significant roles in the areas of performance management, compliance, financial control and reporting.

The new executive director and group chief operating officer, Alozie, who joined the Group in 2019 and has driven the Group’s digital transformation and operational efficiencies.

Emem Usoro, the executive director, North Bank, joined the Group in 2011 and has served in a series of senior regional appointments across Nigeria, covering the retail, corporate and public sectors.

The board also announced the retirement of the following executive directors, who have completed their tenor, many of whom will continue to serve the broader Group upon regulatory approval of a holding company structure. They are the outgone GMD, Kennedy Uzoka, Uche Ike, Chukwuma Nweke, Ibrahim Puri and Chiugo Ndubisi

A further announcement was made on the retirement of a non-executive director, Ambassador Joe Keshi, who served as vice chairman of the board.  This takes effect from August 1, 2022 after a completion of his tenure of 12 years.

The group chairman congratulated the retiring directors on the completion of their tenors and their exemplary records.