E-Financial
UBA Posts 18 Percent Growth In Earnings as Profit Hits N44.5Bn

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc , Africa’s global bank, has released its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31st, 2022, recording impressive growth across its income lines.

Mr Kennedy Uzoka, UBA GMD/CEO
The bank’s result which was released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Tuesday showed that gross earnings rose by 18.3% from N155.4 billion in 2021 to N183.9 billion; while operating income which stood at N106.6 billion as at March 2021, grew by N18% to N125.9 billion in the year under consideration.
The results revealed that the bank’s total assets also rose by 4.1% to N8.9 trillion in the period under review, compared to N8.5 trillion recorded at the end of the 2021 financial year; while shareholders’ funds grew by 2.6% to N825.7bn from N804.8 billion in the same period.
Leveraging on the growth in both interest and non-interest income, the bank’s profit before tax rose to N44.5 billion as at March 2022, up from N40.6 billion a year earlier, while profit after tax stood at N41.5 billion. As always, UBA sustained its strong profitability recording an annualized 20.4% Return on Average Equity (RoAE).
Mr Kennedy Uzoka, UBA’s group managing director/chief executive officer, explained that despite the myriad of economic challenges on the global front which shaped the first three months of the year, the bank’s business model continued to show resilience.
These challenges among others, he noted include the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine that has resulted in a huge supply shock, pushing up commodity prices; and the hike in the interest rates in most advanced countries aimed at tackling spiralling inflation, sparking capital flow reversal from emerging and frontier markets.
“Notwithstanding these developments, we were able to leverage gains from our large customer base and vast geographical spread to bolster earnings. We recorded double-digit growth of 18 percent in our gross earnings to N183.9 billion, with our Nigerian operation raking in 65 percent of the revenue while our operations in other countries accounted for the remainder, showing the diversity in our operations,” Uzoka said.
The GMD pointed out that amid the “Great Resignation” wave that has seen a record number of employees across the globe quit their jobs, disrupting the performance of many businesses,
UBA, in the last quarter of 2021, thoughtfully reviewed upwards, the salaries of its staff as part of broad measures to retain talents, adding, “We believe our staff is part of our success story with their welfare as a top priority.”
Emphasising the bank’s commitment to sustain value for its shareholders in the 2022 financial year, the GMD said, “With strategies in place to further increase revenue and drive cost lower, we are determined to achieve our Cost-to-Income ratio target of below 60.0% by year-end; and for 2022, we are committed to consolidating on the strong start, surpassing our goals and targets, as we look forward to delivering stronger returns to our esteemed shareholders.
Breaking down the figures, Ugo Nwaghodoh, UBA’s group chief finance officer (GCFO), said, “Our Q1’22 financial numbers show we are off with a good start. Particularly, 1 am pleased with how we deployed our balance sheet in the period to grow revenues and increase our market share in a number of West African markets. Driven majorly by interest from customer loans and our investments in long-dated instruments, we grew interest income by an unprecedented quarterly rate of 15 percent to N125.1 billion.
“We drove down our annualized cost of funds by 11 basis points to 2.1%. This was achieved despite the uptick in the interest rate environment in the period,” the GCFO said.
He expressed confidence that the bank will meet and surpass its target for the remaining three quarters of the year, adding that “We remain well-capitalized and liquid to fulfil our growth strategy, take up opportunities in key sectors, whilst navigating impending macroeconomic headwinds.”
United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-five (25) million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touchpoints in 20 African countries. With a presence in New York, London and Paris, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.
E-Financial
UBA’s LEO Becomes Africa’s First Chatbot to Enable Cross-Border Payments

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, has announced that its Artificial Intelligence chatbot, LEO is now enabled to carry out cross-border payment transactions.

Oliver Alawuba, group managing director/chief executive officer, UBA,
By this, LEO becomes Africa’s first AI-powered chatbot to facilitate cross-border payments, offering customers a seamless and instant way to transfer funds across the continent, a statement by Mr. Ramon Nasir, head of corporate communications at UBA, said.
The platform leverages the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) developed in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank), and allows individuals, traders, and corporates to transfer money in local currencies between African countries where the Central Bank has approved PAPSS operations.
Commenting on this milestone, Oliver Alawuba, group managing director/chief executive officer, UBA, said that as Africa’s global bank, UBA is driven by the need to constantly push boundaries and deliver services that speak to the needs of today’s Africa.
“The introduction of cross-border payments on LEO, in partnership with PAPSS, reflects our commitment to digital innovation, Pan-African integration, and customer-centric banking. This is not just a banking upgrade; it is a bold leap into the future of African finance,” he stated.
UBA PAPSS Instant Payment through LEO offers unmatched benefits including instant payments within a few seconds; availability via self-service channels; lower transaction processing fees and zero charges on the beneficiary.
Speaking more on the benefits, Shamsideen Fasola, group head, Retail and Digital Banking, that enhanced security and confidentiality and wider options for remittance products are other benefits that customers stand to gain from the service.
“This is a transformative step in Africa’s financial services landscape. With LEO now fully integrated with the PAPSS infrastructure, UBA customers can send and receive money across African borders in their local currencies within seconds. We’re not just simplifying transactions – we’re fostering intra-African trade and breaking down longstanding barriers to financial inclusion,” Fasola stated.
With this innovation, UBA is empowering account holders, traders, and corporates to transact quickly and efficiently across African markets, formalizing informal trade flows and supporting the broader goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
As the first bank to enable cross-border payments via its chatbot on the continent, UBA continues to lead in innovation, customer experience, and digital banking transformation.
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 45 million customers globally.
Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.
E-Financial
SEC to Introduce USSD Codes to Fight Ponzi Schemes

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to introduce a USSD Ponzi schemes and illegal investment activities in Nigeria.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama, director-general of the SEC, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja.
He said the verification code will be officially launched during the upcoming Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting scheduled for this quarter.
“We are introducing a USSD system that allows mobile phone users to verify the status of any capital market operator. It doesn’t require internet access, meaning anyone with a mobile phone can check if someone is duly registered with the SEC,” Agama said.
He explained that the initiative aims to empower Nigerians to easily identify fake investment promoters.
“If anyone comes to you claiming to be a capital market operator, you can instantly verify their registration using the code,” he added.
Agama emphasized that the Commission is intensifying efforts to eliminate unregistered and prohibited schemes, adding that the SEC has a national responsibility to educate the public on legitimate wealth creation.
“The essence of our regulation is wealth redistribution through legitimate investment platforms like public offerings, Collective Investment Schemes, and other structured products regulated by the SEC,” he said.
He noted that the Commission is working with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to introduce capital market education from an early age, including the use of games for financial learning.
The SEC is also partnering with other agencies to promote financial literacy and responsible investing.
Agama stressed that registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) does not automatically authorize a company to offer investment services. Only firms registered with the SEC are legally permitted to operate in the capital market.
“The first question anyone should ask an investment promoter is whether they are registered with the SEC,” he said.
“We have licensed stockbrokers, accountants, solicitors, and agents called sponsored individuals who are authorized to give investment advice.”
He further highlighted the significance of the recently signed Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025, which classifies Ponzi and other fraudulent schemes as “prohibited,” with tougher penalties for violators.
“President Bola Tinubu signed the Act into law within one week, demonstrating his commitment to protecting Nigerians. Under the Act, violators will face a minimum fine of ₦20 million, which can go up to ₦1 billion, and a prison term of up to 10 years,” he said.
Agama also warned celebrities and influencers promoting Ponzi schemes that the SEC now has legal powers to prosecute them.
He reiterated the SEC’s warning to the public to avoid unregistered schemes promising unrealistic returns, stressing that such platforms are not regulated and do not offer investor protection.
Investors are encouraged to verify the registration status of any firm or product via the SEC’s website or by contacting the Commission directly.
Agama affirmed the SEC’s commitment to investor protection, fair practices, and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.
E-Financial
Polaris Bank Equips 500+ Journalists with Digital Tools for Modern Storytelling

Polaris Bank Limited recently hosted a hybrid capacity-building seminar for approximately 500 journalists both in Nigeria and internationally. The seminar, themed “Empowering Journalists in the Digital Age: Storytelling, Tools & Transformation,” aimed to equip media professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in today’s rapidly changing journalism landscape.

L-R: Miss Adaku Sharon Nwankwo, Digital PR Executive, Polaris Bank Limited, Mr. Rasheed Bolanriwa, Acting Head, Brand Management & Corporate Communications, Polaris Bank; Mr. Abayomi Adisa, Senior Journalist, BBC and Mrs. Bukola Oluyadi, Group Head, Customer Experience & Value Management at Polaris Bank during the hybrid capacity-building seminar organised by the Bank for journalists in Lagos recently.
In a welcome address, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Head of Brand Management & Corporate Communications at Polaris Bank, highlighted the bank’s longstanding tradition in media education. He pointed out that Polaris Bank has been investing in such initiatives for the past 12 years and confidently stated that the bank has been in the vanguard in digital capacity building for the Nigerian media. Bolarinwa stressed that enhancing the skills of journalists ultimately benefits society as a whole.
Drawing from a well-known Chinese proverb, he explained that the bank prefers to teach people how to fish rather than simply giving them fish to eat. Empowering journalists to become self-sufficient, he said, is the guiding principle behind the Polaris bank’s executive management annual approval and support of the seminar.
The media seminar featured training sessions led by two prominent journalists: Mr. Taiwo Obe, Founder and Director of The Journalism Clinic, and Mr. Abayomi Adisa, a senior journalist with BBC. Obe reminded participants of the fundamental purpose of journalism, quoting veteran American journalist Tom Rosenstiel: “The purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies, and their governments.”
Obe discussed the significant transformation journalism has undergone since the early 2000s, driven by technological innovation. He highlighted the emergence of mobile journalism (Mojo), which allows journalists to capture, produce, and share news content in real-time. Obe mentioned Reuters’ 2007 introduction of the Mojo Toolkit, which included the Nokia N95, a small tripod, compact wireless keyboard, solar charger, and external microphone, as a milestone that made it easier for reporters to deliver news on the go.
He encouraged journalists to explore and utilize a variety of free digital applications available on the Google Play Store. By embracing these tools, journalists can go beyond traditional text-based reporting and incorporate audio, video, and interactive graphics to tell more compelling stories. Obe also highlighted the growing adoption of artificial intelligence in Nigerian newsrooms, noting that AI is now being used for tasks such as copy editing, content illustration, content strategy, and advertising targeting, which opens new avenues for efficiency and creativity in journalism.
He further advised journalists to leverage the data from their news stories in innovative ways, suggesting that they transform story data into guidebooks, archival material, issue analyses, position papers, recommendations, puzzles, Q&As, and even inspiration for full-length books.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abayomi Adisa, who focused his presentation on writing for social media, urged participants to harness the magic of making their audiences stop, engage, and share their posts. Adisa outlined key strategies for crafting effective posts and teasers, ensuring that the content is personal, relevant to the audience, engaging, shareable, and concise. He acknowledged that social media is an environment characterized by distraction and noise, so content must be both influential and personally resonant to capture attention.
Speaking at the seminar, Mrs. Bukola Oluyadi, Group Head of Customer Experience & Value Management at Polaris Bank, during her closing remarks emphasized the bank’s commitment to supporting the media industry. She remarked that these seminars are crucial, as no industry or organization can flourish without the involvement and backing of the media.
Oluyadi stated that capacity building is not a one-time effort but a continuous process. She noted, “People cannot improve with the status quo of yesterday; we need to keep building.” According to her, the bank is dedicated to sustaining this initiative annually, fully aware that consistent investment in the media is essential for long-term growth and sustainability.
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