UBA appoints first female CEO for Africa

The Board of Directors of United Bank for Africa Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, on Monday announced the appointment of Abiola Bawuah as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UBA Africa. Ms. Bawuah will also join the Group Board as an Executive Director, overseeing the Group’s operations across the African continent, outside of Nigeria. UBA operates in 19 African countries beyond Nigeria, in addition to global operations in New York, London, Paris and the UAE.

Mrs. Bawuah, a Ghanaian national, is the first female CEO of UBA Africa. His appointment further demonstrates UBA’s commitment to diversity. The UBA Group Board currently includes eight female Directors.

Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Bawuah was the Regional CEO, West Africa, overseeing the Group’s operations in nine subsidiaries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. He was previously the CEO, UBA Ghana.

Commenting on the new appointment, the Chairman of the Group Board, Tony Elumelu said, “Abiola has contributed significantly to the growth of UBA Africa for almost a decade. He brings with him a wealth of experience in commercial banking and stakeholder engagement. I am also delighted by his appointment, the Group Board UBA has now become a majority women council.

The UBA Group also announced the following executive roles:

Chris Ofikulu is the Regional CEO, UBA West Africa. Mr. Ofikulu has over twenty years of banking experience in corporate, commercial, and retail banking.

Uzoechina Molokwu will assume the role of Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of UBA Ghana, subject to local regulatory approval. He was previously Executive Director, Business Development – UBA Côte d’Ivoire and has over 23 years of banking experience.

Ayokunle Olajubu will be the Managing Director/CEO of UBA Liberia, subject to local regulatory approval. He currently drives compliance in our African subsidiary and has 30 years of banking experience in Nigeria and other African countries, including Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire and Gambia.

Theresa Henshaw has been appointed CEO of UBA UK, subject to local regulatory approval. He was previously DMD, Business Development, UBA America and joined the Group as ED, Business Development at UBA UK.

Usman Isiaka, currently CEO, UBA Sierra Leone, will become Deputy CEO of UBA America, subject to local regulatory approval.

Adeyemi Adeleke, former CEO of UBA, UK is now the Group Treasurer. Mr. Adeleke will work to unlock great value in the Group’s multi-jurisdictional balance sheet, leveraging its presence in 24 countries in and across Africa.

In addition to the executive appointments, UBA has announced the retirement of Samuel Oni, an independent non-executive director, from the Board after the expiry of his tenure. He joined the UBA Group in January 2015 and was a member of the Group Board for eight years.

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Group Chairman Mr. Elumelu expressed his appreciation to Mr. Oni, for his commitment, leadership and many contributions to the UBA Group and on behalf of the Board, we wish him the best in all future endeavours.

Operating in twenty African countries and in the United Kingdom, the United States, France and the United Arab Emirates, United Bank for Africa provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and applying advanced technology. UBA is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees across the group and serving more than 37 million customers worldwide.