United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has marked Africa Day with a group-wide celebration across its operations in 20 African countries, bringing together employees in a unified expression of cultural pride and continental identity.

Speaking during the celebration, UBA Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, emphasized the bank’s role in driving Africa’s economic integration and development through its extensive pan-African presence.

According to him, UBA is more than a financial institution, describing it as a bridge connecting markets, people, cultures and opportunities across the continent.

“As a Group with presence in 20 African countries, UBA is more than a bank. We are a bridge across markets, cultures, people and opportunities. Every day, through our people, technology, capital and customer relationships, we connect Africa to itself and Africa to the world,” he said.

Alawuba noted that Africa is undergoing a transformation driven by innovation, entrepreneurship and a new generation of leaders reshaping business, technology and culture.

He highlighted the growing role of young people, women, creatives and entrepreneurs in redefining the continent’s economic future, urging UBA staff to position themselves as enablers of this progress.

He also challenged employees to translate the energy of the Africa Day celebration into their daily work by prioritising excellence, efficiency and customer-focused execution.

“Let us bring the same energy we display today into our work, with excellence, enterprise and execution. Let us continue to prove that African institutions can be world-class, trusted, innovative and globally competitive,” he said.

UBA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its pan-African operations and supporting the continent’s drive toward deeper financial integration and sustainable growth.