NEWS
UBA Announces Executive Leadership Transition as Four Directors Retire, Three New Executive Directors Appointed to Drive Next Phase of Growth
United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has announced a major transition in its executive leadership, with the retirement of four Executive Directors and the appointment of three new ones, in a move that underscores the bank’s commitment to structured succession planning and sustained growth across its operations.
The development was disclosed in a formal notice signed by the Group Company Secretary, Bili Odum, and filed with the Nigerian Exchange on Friday.
“United Bank for Africa Plc (‘UBA’ or ‘the Bank’) hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited of the retirement of the following Executive Directors, effective January 1, 2026, following the completion of their tenure,” the bank stated.
According to the notice, the retiring Executive Directors are Muyiwa Akinyemi, Deputy Managing Director; Abiola Bawuah, Executive Director; Alex Alozie, Executive Director; and Sola Yomi-Ajayi, Executive Director. Their retirement takes effect from January 1, 2026, upon the completion of their respective tenures.
The Group Chairman of UBA, Mr Tony Elumelu, paid glowing tribute to the outgoing directors, acknowledging their years of service and the critical roles they played in shaping the bank’s growth trajectory across Africa and beyond.
“I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the retiring Executive Directors for their years of dedicated service, steadfast commitment, and support to UBA. Each of them has made significant contributions to the growth and success of UBA Group.
“On behalf of the Board, I thank them for their service and commend their impact. They will remain members of the UBA family and ambassadors of the values and standards we represent,” Mr Elumelu said.
In the same notice, UBA also announced the appointment of three new Executive Directors, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as part of efforts to strengthen its leadership structure and position the bank for its next phase of expansion.
Emmanuel Lamptey was appointed Executive Director, Digital Banking. He brings over 25 years of experience spanning retail and corporate banking, asset management, securities brokerage, pensions, insurance, and microfinance across more than 30 African countries. An alumnus of Harvard Business School, he is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Tosin Adewuyi was appointed Executive Director, Corporate Banking. He has more than 25 years of experience across Sub-Saharan Africa, including 15 years in senior management roles in London and Lagos. His professional expertise covers structured trade finance, corporate and investment banking, debt capital markets, and correspondent banking. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, an alumnus of Wharton Business School, and holds a BA in Economics and Accounting from the University of Manchester.
Chidi Okpala was appointed Executive Director, UBA Nigeria. Prior to this appointment, he served as Executive Director for Payments, Group Integration and Strategy at Heirs Holdings. He has over 20 years of banking experience, with a strong background in payments, financial services innovation, and corporate strategy. He holds a B.Sc. in Finance, an MBA in Banking and Finance, and an MSc in Leadership and Strategy from London Business School, where he is a Sloan Fellow.
Commenting on the new appointments, Mr Elumelu expressed confidence in the capacity of the incoming Executive Directors to consolidate on UBA’s achievements and steer the bank into its next growth phase.
“I congratulate the incoming Executive Directors on their appointments. The Board is confident that they bring the experience, depth, and execution capability required to build on the foundation and successes established by their predecessors, and to advance UBA’s next phase of growth,” he said.
The leadership changes reflect UBA’s long-standing tradition of strong corporate governance, continuity, and strategic renewal, as the pan-African financial institution continues to expand its footprint and strengthen its competitive position across global markets.