UBA: Elumelu Harps On Gender Equality As Bawuah Becomes CEO

Tony Elumelu, Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa, UBA says the bank is very gender sensitive when it comes to appointing persons into top executives roles.

Women now dominate the board of the commercial bank following the appointment of Abiola Bawuah as Chief Executive Officer, UBA Africa, UBA Africa, Elumelu said.

Bawuah is the first female to be appointed to the position by the bank.

To qualify for the position, Elumelu said “Abiola has contributed significantly to the growth of UBA Africa for close to a decade. She brings a wealth of experience in commercial banking, and stakeholder engagement.

“It also gives me great pleasure that with her appointment, the UBA Group Board has now become a majority female board.”

In her new role as one of the Executive directors of the bank, Bawuah will oversee the Group’s operations across 19 African countries, excluding Nigeria.

The appointment of the Ghanaian born banker further demonstrates UBA’s commitment to diversity, the commercial bank said, adding that it now has eight female Directors.

Bawuah is coming into her new role with a ruburst experience in the banking and financial services sector.
Prior to her appointment, Bawuah was Regional CEO, West Africa, supervising the Group’s operations in nine subsidiaries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. She previously held the role of CEO, UBA Ghana.

Meanwhile, the bank has also announced other appointments.

Chris Ofikulu becomes the Regional CEO, UBA West Africa. Ofikulu, who has over two decades of banking experience spanning corporate, commercial, and retail banking.

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

Ayokunle Olajubu will be the Managing Director/CEO UBA Liberia, subject to local regulatory approvals. He currently drives compliance across Africa subsidiaries andcomes with 30 years banking experience in Nigeria and other African countries,includingSierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire and the Gambia.

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

Usman Isiaka, currently CEO, UBA Sierra Leone, will be the Deputy CEO in UBA America, subject to local regulatory approvals.

Adeyemi Adeleke, the former CEO of UBA, UK is now the Group Treasurer. Adeleke will be working to unlock the immense value in the Group’s multi-jurisdictional balance sheet, leveraging on its presence in 24 countries within and beyond Africa.