BY – Blessing Jonathan
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has recorded more milestones of achievement. This is outlined in the institution’s annual sustainability report, 2022 edition.
The extensive report underscores the global bank’s dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and principles. This encompasses social responsibility, decarbonization efforts, ethical business conduct, and robust governance. The report culminates by emphasizing the bank’s steadfast commitment to achieving NetZero objectives and evaluating the potential effects of both physical and transitional risks on the bank’s business strategy.
In metrics, the annual report further covers targeted areas including corporate governance, strategy, risk management, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and the bank’s commitment to increasing the quality of non-financial performance and disclosures.
In his comment, Ugo Nwaghodoh, UBA’s Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management, pointed that this annual report initiative was critical to the Bank’s business operations and would help to ensure that opportunities and resources for future generations are not jeopardized.
“We remain a purpose driven organisation, committed to Africa’s long-term wellbeing and to generating social, economic and environmental value, which is an outcome we regard just as important as our financial results.
“Sustainability goes beyond ticking boxes and meeting regulatory requirements. It involves strategic planning and decision-making in creating a culture of economic, social and environmental responsibility across the Bank, its people and the entire value chain,” Nwaghodo said.
Head of Sustainability Desk, Chidozie Ezike, also commended the achievement recorded in 2022, as the report revealed. Listing out the great financial inclusion drive by the institution, the HOS announced that in 2022, UBA onboarded over 200,000 agents across Nigeria, which is a 100% increase from the previous year (2021) which onboarded 100,000 agents.
Chidozie also highlighted that during the same year, the bank provided training to more than 8,533 individuals. Additionally, the bank extended its support to over 22,000 medium-sized and small enterprises (MSMEs) customers, a significant increase from the 5,000 SME customers it assisted in 2021.
“Also worthy of mention is the braille account opening form, designed to on-board the visually impaired, an initiative which is the first of its kind in Africa and in the area of supporting SDGs, 21,500 people were impacted through the UBA community feeding Program in 2022 up from 1,300 people in 2021.”
“I must also emphasise that the bank is ahead of other financial institutions when it comes to gender balance as the number of females on the UBA board increased to 47% in 2022 from 31% in 2021. Females on board level are currently 53% above the bank set target and is incidentally the highest in Africa.
“UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the banking group launched its 2023 Tree Planting Campaign in partnership with the Lagos State Parks and Garden Agency (LASPARK).
“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 35 million customers globally,”Chidozie’s statement further reads.
UBA is a global African financial institution, operating in 20 African countries, United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates. It was founded 74 years ago and chaired by Delta Born Nigerian Business Guru, Tony Elumelu, ‘UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.’
UBA stands as a prominent African financial entity with a global presence, conducting operations across 20 African nations, as well as in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates. Established 74 years ago, the institution is under the leadership of Nigerian business visionary Tony Elumelu, hailing from Delta State. UBA offers an array of services encompassing retail, commercial, and institutional banking, spearheading financial inclusion efforts and leveraging innovative technology.