Business

UBA Business Series to Support SME’s, Business Owners with Brand Positioning, Marketing Strategies

Published

5 years ago

September 14, 2020

In its continuous bid to support the growth of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) and equip them with the necessary tools to strengthen and sustain their businesses, Pan African Financial Institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is set to organise another edition of its quarterly UBA Business Series.

The UBA Business Series which is held quarterly, is an MSME Workshop and a capacity building initiative where leading business leaders share insights on best practices for running successful businesses in the face of huge economic challenges. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic presented a huge challenge to many entrepreneurs and to help mitigate potential losses, UBA through its business series has been providing businesses with essential tips that would help re-evaluate their models and strategies as they wade through these uncertain times.

The topic for this edition of the UBA Business Series is ‘Brand Positioning and Marketing for Businesses Post COVID 19’, and it will hold on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 via Microsoft Teams.UBAwill be hosting the Managing Director, Nitro 121, Mr Lampe Omoyele, a brand management professional, who will give business leaders and upcoming entrepreneurs tips on the best ways to ensure their businesses survive especially in the wake of the pandemic. Omoyele who is also the Founding Partner, The LucentConsulting Company, is a widely respected business leader and mentor in the marketing and advertising industry of sub-Saharan Africa.

The event which is open to all participants will be held virtually starting at 2pm WAT on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 and interested participants can register here, or via http://bit.ly/UBABusinessSeriesReg.

UBA’s Group Head, Consumer and Retail Banking, Jude Anele, who spoke ahead of the workshop, said with his vast experience in brand management, Omoyele will point small business owners in the direction needed to galvanise their brands and position it in such a way as to attract the right customers.

Anele pointed out UBA’s unending commitment and deep passion to help small businesses, which according to him, remains the engine of any developing economy. “We are well aware that small businesses are the backbone of the economy in every country. In many climes, businesses with fewer than 100 employees account for 98.2% of all businesses. This no doubt aptly captures the importance of SMEs to a thriving economy which is why UBA is committed to seeing them flourish.”

UBA’s Group Head, Marketing and Customer Experience, Michelle Nwoga, said the bank’s passion is hinged on ensuring that customers and entrepreneurs run businesses that can stand the test of time with requisite knowledge and experience required to take their businesses to the next level.

She explained that the seminar is open to all business owners and leaders across Nigeria, adding that intending participants can register quickly to be part of the invaluable experience.

United Bank for Africa is a leading pan-African financial institution offering banking services to more than twenty million customers globally. With footprint in 20 African countries and presence globally in the United Kingdom, the USA and France, 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.

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Business

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

Published

6 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Sahara Weekly

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

ASR Africa emerges the Corporate Social Responsibility Champion of the Year at the Independent Awards 2024 in Lagos recently. Dr Ubon Udoh, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, represented the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu (CFR, CON) at the event to receive the award on his behalf.

Dr. Ubon Udoh thanked the organisers of the Award for recognizing the immense contributions of Abdul Samad Rabiu in creating sustainable homegrown solutions in Nigeria and Africa at large, in the area of health, education, mentorship and social development. He noted that the award, no doubt, will serve as an impetus for ASR Africa to continue to do more.

ASR Africa is an initiative of one of Africa’s biggest philanthropists and serial entrepreneurs, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder & Executive Chairman, BUA Group. At the heart of our mission lies a deep-rooted commitment to fostering substantial progress across the African continent through focused investments in education, health, and social development sectors.

Business

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

Published

10 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Sahara Weekly

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc on Friday, hosted the 60th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chief Davidson C. S. Alaribe, FCA, in a meeting aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation between both institutions.

The meeting signalled a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two institutions, as they explored strategic partnerships aimed at driving mutual growth and development in the financial and accounting sectors.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who welcomed the ICAN President and his high-profile delegation, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and assured that the bank is ready and willing to support the institution in its drive for excellence.

He said, “UBA is proud to be home to a significant number of ICAN members, whose expertise has been instrumental to our success as Africa’s global bank. This visit reaffirms our shared commitment to excellence and innovation.

Continuing, Alawuba stated, “We are particularly excited about potential collaboration in the Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP), training initiatives, and other business opportunities that will create a win-win for both organisations.”

The delegation had distinguished members of the institute’s council and executive team, including Immediate Past President of ICAN; Mr. Oladele Nuraini Oladipo, FCA, ICAN Council Member; Dr. Oluseyi Oladimeji Olanrewaju, FCA, ICAN’s Honorary Treasurer; Mr. Biodun Adedeji, FCA, ICAN Council Member; and Dr. Lanre Olasunkanmi, FCA, Registrar/Chief Executive of ICAN.

Alaribe who was visibly excited at the corroboration between both organisations, said, “UBA is not just a financial powerhouse in Nigeria but a global leader with a strong presence across Africa and beyond. ICAN recognises the immense value UBA brings to the table, and we are excited to explore opportunities for collaboration in areas such as capacity building, professional development, and business expansion. This partnership will undoubtedly benefit our members and the broader financial ecosystem.”

The discussions also focused on several key areas of collaboration in capacity building, Joint training programmes to enhance the skills of accounting professionals and UBA staff, collaborating on initiatives to promote ethical standards, financial literacy, and best practices in accounting and finance and setting up a branch of ICAN at the UBA House.

This historic meeting marks a significant milestone in the relationship between UBA and ICAN, two institutions committed to driving excellence and innovation in the financial and accounting professions. Both parties expressed optimism about the future and pledged to work closely to achieve their shared goals.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) is the leading professional accounting body in Nigeria, established to regulate the practice of accountancy and promote excellence in the profession. With over 50,000 members, ICAN is dedicated to advancing the science of accountancy and fostering ethical standards in the industry.

United Bank for Africa is Africa’s Global Bank. Operating across 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. UBA 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.

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

Business

DESPERATE NIGER BEGS NIGERIA FOR FUEL AMID CATASTROPHIC SHORTAGE!

Published

21 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Sahara Weekly

DESPERATE NIGER BEGS NIGERIA FOR FUEL AMID CATASTROPHIC SHORTAGE!

Nigeria Rescues Its Defiant Neighbor as Fuel Crisis Spirals Out of Control

Abuja/Niamey – March 15, 2025 – In a stunning turn of events, Niger Republic has turned to its long-estranged neighbor, Nigeria, for help after being crippled by a catastrophic fuel shortage. Despite months of diplomatic tensions, hostile rhetoric, and even allegations of sabotage, Niger’s military junta has been forced to swallow its pride and beg Nigeria for emergency fuel supplies to prevent total economic collapse.

Sources reveal that a high-powered delegation from the junta rushed to Abuja in a desperate plea for assistance. The outcome? A staggering 300 truckloads of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) approved for immediate delivery—a move insiders say Nigeria is leveraging as a “strategic bargaining tool” in negotiations to pull Niger back into the ECOWAS fold.

Niger’s Fuel Nightmare: Prices Soar to Unthinkable Heights

With its economy in free fall, Niger’s fuel crisis has reached nightmarish levels. Reports indicate that petrol prices have skyrocketed to an eye-watering N8,750 per liter in some areas—forcing citizens into dire straits. Border towns, once lifelines for smuggled Nigerian fuel, have been left paralyzed.

A Nigerian transborder businessman, Mallam Abubakar Usman, described the situation as “beyond critical,” revealing that in the border town of Konni, fuel sells for 1,200 CFA (N2,500 per liter), while in Agadez, prices soar to 3,000 CFA (N7,500 per liter). The situation is even grimmer in Arilit, near Algeria, where a single liter costs an unbelievable 3,500 CFA (N8,750).

How Niger’s Junta Backfired on China—And Paid the Price

Niger’s woes, experts say, are self-inflicted. The junta’s reckless confrontation with Chinese oil giants has backfired disastrously. After securing a $400 million advance from the China National Petroleum Corporation, Niger found itself unable to repay. But instead of negotiating, the junta took a hardline approach, slapping an outrageous $80 billion tax demand on Soraz (Zinder Refinery Company), despite owing $250 billion to Chinese oil firms.

China’s response was swift and brutal. It shut down operations, expelled Nigerien officials, and froze accounts, effectively collapsing Niger’s petroleum sector overnight. The Soraz refinery—a lifeline for fuel supplies—ground to a halt, plunging the country into chaos.

Yet, despite the junta’s blunders, Niger remains too proud to admit its dependency on Nigeria. Reports indicate that Niger’s state-controlled media has deliberately avoided acknowledging Nigeria’s critical intervention, instead painting the fuel supply as an internal success.

Nigeria: The Unexpected Savior?

Despite Niger’s earlier accusations that Nigeria was plotting against it, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has chosen to rise above past animosities and extend an olive branch. The silent fuel deal, orchestrated behind closed doors, is more than just humanitarian aid—it’s a masterstroke in diplomatic strategy.

A senior Nigerian government official revealed: “We do not want to blow our trumpet. Rather, we want to use this as leverage to bring them back into ECOWAS. The truth is, they simply do not have the resources to sustain themselves without us.”

Nigeria’s Oil Industry: Strong Enough to Bail Out Niger?

Oil marketers and industry experts confirm that Nigeria has the capacity to shoulder Niger’s crisis without disrupting its own economy. With the Dangote refinery, the Port Harcourt refinery, and additional imports, Nigeria remains a dominant force in West African energy.

Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, confirmed that the country has ample resources: “If we have a diplomatic reason for this, it is completely doable.”

Will This Lifeline Bring Niger Back to ECOWAS?

While Niger’s military rulers have yet to acknowledge Nigeria’s help, the reality remains—without Nigeria, Niger’s survival is at stake. This fuel crisis has exposed the junta’s vulnerability, forcing it to rely on the very country it once accused of betrayal.

As Nigeria continues its strategic maneuvering, one question lingers: Will Niger finally come back to the ECOWAS fold, or will it gamble on further isolation?