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UBA Partners NBA Young Lawyers Forum, to Foster Professional Growth of 50,000 Practitioners

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UBA Partners NBA Young Lawyers Forum, to Foster Professional Growth of 50,000 Practitioners

 

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced a strategic partnership with the Young Lawyers Forum (YLF) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) with the aim to propel the professional development of over 50,000 young legal practitioners across Nigeria, by way of academic sponsorships as well as trainings, with reputable agencies in a bid to enhance their legal careers.

 

UBA Partners NBA Young Lawyers Forum, to Foster Professional Growth of 50,000 Practitioners

 

The partnership was announced on Friday, July 24, at the bank’s headquarters, UBA House, in Marina, Lagos. This collaboration aligns with UBA’s longstanding commitment to youth empowerment and Nigeria’s socio-economic advancement.

 

Under this initiative, UBA will provide comprehensive support to the NBA-YLF, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Bar Association that represents lawyers with less than 7 years of post-call experience. The bank’s involvement is expected to enhance these emerging legal professionals’ career trajectories significantly.

 

 Speaking on the partnership, Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo emphasized the bank’s dedication to nurturing young talent and in the process strengthening the legal framework that ensures justice is effective in the country. “The partnership with NBA-YLF aligns strategically with UBA’s commitment to youth development and community engagement while reinforcing the bank’s dedication to fostering professional growth”.

 

“At UBA, we recognize that empowering the youth is crucial to Nigeria’s future growth and advancement”, Ladipo said. “By investing in the professional growth of young lawyers, we’re not just supporting individuals; we’re strengthening the very fabric of our legal system and, by extension, our nation’s development,” she added.

 

Also speaking, UBA’s Brand Project Manager, Lemachi Chris Asoluka, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and how such empowerment is invaluable in the present legal landscape.

 

“This collaboration with UBA marks a significant milestone as it provides unparalleled opportunities for young lawyers to gain the skills and connections necessary to thrive in today’s competitive legal landscape.” Chris -Asoluka said

 

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.

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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ZENITH BANK EMERGES NIGERIA’S BEST BANK AT EUROMONEY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2025

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ZENITH BANK EMERGES NIGERIA’S BEST BANK AT EUROMONEY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2025

 

Zenith Bank Plc has been named “Nigeria’s Best Bank” at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, emerging as Nigeria’s standout performer, and clinching the biggest and most coveted country award.

 

 

The award, which was presented to the bank on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at The Peninsula, London, is a testament to its commitment to delivering exceptional banking services, innovative products and superior value to its customers and shareholders. Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence are one of the most highly coveted awards that matter to banks and bankers who matter. The annual Awards for Excellence celebrates financial institutions that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and resilience in their markets, with this year’s edition seeing a record number of over 770 entries from world class financial institutions including HSBC, Morgan Stanley, CitiBank, Barclays, Standard Bank and Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), amongst others.Commenting on the award, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON said,

 

“We are absolutely thrilled to be recognized as Nigeria’s Best Bank by Euromoney. This award is not just a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence, but also a validation of the unwavering trust and confidence our customers have placed in us. We are once again reminded that our success is not just about us, but about the impact we continue to have on the financial ecosystem. We will continue to work tirelessly to support the growth and development of our economy and uphold the highest standards of governance, integrity and transparency that has earned us this recognition”.She dedicated the award to Zenith Bank’s customers across the globe for their loyalty, and to the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his visionary leadership and commitment to excellence which formed the foundation for the bank’s successes. She also thanked the Board for their guidance, as well as the staff for their unwavering dedication to building a formidable and best in class global financial institution that will outlive generations. Zenith Bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous awards including being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the sixteenth consecutive year in the 2025 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker. The Bank was also awarded Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022 and 2024; Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020 to 2022, 2024 and 2025, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023; and was listed in the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.Further recognitions include Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for five consecutive years from 2021 to 2025 in the World Finance Banking Awards and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the International Banker 2023 and 2024 Banking Awards.

 

 

Additionally, Zenith Bank has been acknowledged as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for four consecutive years from 2022 to 2025 and ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.The Bank’s commitment to excellence saw it being named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in The Banker’s Top 500 Banking Brands for 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year 2023 and 2024 at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, and Retail Bank of the Year for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 and in 2024 at the BAFI Awards. The Bank also received the accolades of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.Zenith Bank was also named Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, Best Company in Transparency and Reporting and Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024; Bank of the Year 2024 by ThisDay Newspaper; Bank of the Year 2024 by New Telegraph Newspaper; and Best in MSME Trade Finance, 2023 by Nairametrics. The Bank’s Hybrid Offer was also adjudged ‘Rights Issue/ Public Offer of the Year’ at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025.

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FIRSTBANK MARKS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE: ₦1 TRILLION IN INSTANT DIGITAL LOAN DISBURSEMENTS

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FIRSTBANK MARKS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE: ₦1 TRILLION IN INSTANT DIGITAL LOAN DISBURSEMENTS

 

Lagos, 18 July 2025 – FirstBank, a leading financial institution and provider of financial inclusion services in West Africa, announces the achievement of ₦1 trillion in cumulative instant digital loan disbursements. This accomplishment further consolidates the Bank’s reputation for innovation, leadership in financial inclusion, and commitment to customer empowerment within.

Since its inaugural digital loan in August 2019, FirstBank has developed an unconventional and robust digital lending ecosystem designed with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, to improve access to finance, especially to the high-risk customer segment. The Bank created a multi- channel loan disbursement service that requires no collaterals, zero documentation and is void of human interactions. Through its FirstAdvance, FirstCredit and AgentCredit products, 1.5 million unique borrowers enjoyed instant and secure access to credit. This is irrespective of whether they are salary earners, non-salary earners, or micro business owners. They also have the convenient options of accessing these loans through platforms such as *894# (FirstBank’s USSD service), FirstMobile, LitApp and the FirstMonie Agent App.

Regarding this milestone, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business & Retail Products at FirstBank, stated: “This success underscores our ongoing commitment to innovation and a customer-focused approach, which are central to FirstBank’s core values. Beyond achieving substantial figures, we remain dedicated to fostering opportunities for financial independence across Nigeria in particular, and in Africa at large.’’

He added, “We value the trust our customers place in us to support their financial aspirations. Our efforts to advance digital lending will persist, especially to the excluded and underserved customer segments, while effectively managing risks in the process.”

FirstBank currently disburses about N1 Billion daily in digital loans, demonstrating its commitment to fostering an inclusive, technology-driven future for Nigerians. By consistently investing in advanced technologies and developing customised financial solutions, the Bank seeks to improve the financial well-being of individuals and businesses across the nation.

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UNION BANK RESPONDS TO HIGH COURT RULING ON NICON INVESTMENTS LIMITED, GLOBAL FLEET AND JIMOH IBRAHIM CASE

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UNION BANK RESPONDS TO HIGH COURT RULING ON NICON INVESTMENTS
LIMITED, GLOBAL FLEET AND JIMOH IBRAHIM CASE

Union Bank of Nigeria acknowledges the recent judgment of Justice Abike Fadipe of the Ikeja High Court in the matter involving Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet, and the Bank.

We wish to assure our customers, partners, and the public that Union Bank operates with the highest levels of professionalism, ethical conduct, and legal compliance in all our dealings.

While we respect the authority of the court, we strongly disagree with the judgment delivered and have instructed our lawyers to file an appeal against it immediately.

The court’s findings, including its position on the consolidation of indebtedness, locus standi, and third-party liability, are at variance with established legal principles and the Bank’s
understanding of the facts. We are confident in our legal position and intend to vigorously pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that justice is served.

Union Bank had previously transferred the relevant debt obligations to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), and we maintain that all actions taken in this regard were in line with applicable laws and banking practice.

We reiterate our unwavering commitment to acting in good faith, protecting stakeholder
interests, and preserving the integrity that has defined our institution for over a century. The Bank remains resilient and focused on continuing to deliver excellent service and value to its customers.

We appreciate the continued trust and support of all stakeholders as we navigate this legal process.

 

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