It was an exciting evening on Saturday, April 9 as staff of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc gathered at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos to celebrate those that have performed exceptionally well in the 2015 financial year.
The tradition was established in 2008 and this was the eighth edition since its inception.
It lived up to its reputation as a night of glamour and glitz as bankers let down their conservative mien and turned up in a “party” mood to celebrate their colleagues that have excelled in the just concluded financial year.
The theme of the night – The Evolution of UBA – was aimed at celebrating UBA’s rich history as one of the biggest and dominant banks through the ages from its inception in 1949.
Using dance drama headlined by top Nollywood stars like Segun Arinze, Norbert Young, Ireti Doyle, and Gideon Okeke, it highlighted the men and women who have made UBA what it is today.
The landmark heritage building on 57 Marina, contributions across Africa and its foot print across Africa in 19 countries; Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad, Cameroon, Kenya, Gabon, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Mozambique, Senegal, Congo DR and Congo Brazzaville as well as in the key global financial centres of New York, London and Paris were also celebrated.
The multicultural diversity of the UBA group was on full display as board chairmen and the managing directors of the UBA subsidiaries in all its 18 countries of operations outside Nigeria were also present at the event.
There were 16 different categories of awards given out to staff, business offices, country subsidiaries and strategic business units on the night. Specific areas covered by the awards include; profitability, deposit growth in Nigeria and Africa, most improved country or regional bank in mobilization, digital banking adoption, customer service, compliance rating and support services.
But the highlight of the awards was the “GMD’s Special Award” for a staff that has performed exceptionally in his or her assigned duties in 2015.
The night also experienced high level performance from Nigeria’s top musical stars. Staff took to the dance floor as they experienced back to back electrifying performances from the Alert Master, Korede Bello, D’banj, Yemi Alade and Dr Sid.
Comedy was by Basketmouth.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, Group Managing Director and CEO of UBA Plc, Phillips Oduoza, described the awards as the most exciting event in UBA operational calendar.
“This is the night we honour members of our staff who have come to represent everything we stand for as an organisation. The staff, departments and business units that receive awards this night are hardworking, articulate and always willing to go the extra mile to achieve the targets we set for ourselves at the beginning of every financial year as a bank,” Oduoza said.
