By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their commitment to complement the Bank of Sierra Leone’s efforts in promoting financial inclusion and inclusive economic growth as well as reaching out to the banked, under-banked and unbanked populace across the country, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone has on Thursday 29th July, 2021 commissioned its newly constructed branch at Adonkia in the Western Rural District.
The Managing Director of UBA Sierra Leone, Usman Isiaka, conveyed greetings on behalf of the Group Chairman of UBA Plc ,Tony Elumelu (CON), the Group Managing Director (GMD) Kennedy Uzoka, the Group Deputy Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba who oversees all the 19 country businesses of UBA outside of Nigeria and his line supervisor Abiola Bawuah, the Regional Chief Executive Officer for West Africa.
He said he is gratified as he fulfills a legacy of his second predecessor, Chinedu Obeta, the former MD/CEO of UBA Sierra Leone whom, he said, started this journey of establishing the Adonkia branch of UBA about a year ago but now serving as the MD/CEO UBA Zambia.
Usman Isiaka added that at UBA, they are United by One Bank, and they remain committed to driving the global vision and mission of the Bank.
He further revealed that the Adonkia new branch is part of UBA Sierra Leone’s strategic intent of expanding their reach to the banked, under-banked and unbanked populace across the country under their 2021 Branch Expansion Project and the new UBA Branch Model and Prototypes that are expected to give their esteemed customers new
experience of a beautiful business environment as exemplified by
the edifice to be commissioned.
The Managing Director noted that the Adonkia branch is one of the 5 new customer service touch points (3 branches and 2 cash points) and that the Bank plans for the current financial year to bring the total number of their business offices in the country to 14 (10 branches and 4 cash points) for improved customer service experience and
convenience of their existing and prospective customers.
He disclosed that the new UBA Adonkia branch will provide to the delight of all the banking populace in that community and beyond.
Deputy Governor of Financial Stability of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Sheik Alhaji Yahya Sesay, described the new UBA Adonkia branch as truly modern and beautiful, which he said is a clear manifestation of United Bank of Africa’s continued investment in Sierra Leone and its desire to serve its esteemed customers in a conducive and modern environment.
He pointed out that as one of the top listed banks in the world, the UBA enjoys an excellent customer base, a diversified business structure and strong innovation capabilities and market that have continued to play a leading role in the banking sector throughout the years and has been a strong and vital anchor to the Sierra Leonean economy for over a decade now, adding that its contributions to the business community and the private sector has been tremendous even during the difficult times of the Ebola scourge and now COVID-19 global pandemic.
Sheik Alhaji Yahya Sesay disclosed that the Bank of Sierra Leone will always be a willing partner to any financial institution working towards increasing and improving banking services as one of the major objectives of the Bank of Sierra Leone is the protection of depositors’ funds and they therefore wish to assure the public that the banking system in Sierra Leone is strong, safe and resilient.
The Member of Parliament for Constituency 110, Hon. Kadijatu Davies commended the United Bank for African (UBA) Sierra Leone for considering her constituency to establish a branch which she said will be beneficial to her constituents.
She noted that Constituency 110 has been deprived for a very longtime in having a bank at their doorstep adding that they were faced with a lot of challenges in order to have access to banking services in that part of the country and that some had to come all the way to Lumley or in town to access such services, furthering that with the commissioning of the new branch those challenges will be things of the past.
Commissioning the new Adonkia Branch, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, John Henry Omaku, commended UBA Sierra Leone for their expansionist drive which he said is a clear manifestation that the Bank cares about every Sierra Leonean.
He said that for over decades the United Bank for Africa has been empowering Africans in all aspects of life adding that their presence at Adonkia will definitely change the narrative in terms of banking services by adding positive values to their services.
John Henry Omaku encouraged the Bank to inculcate the mission of the Bank to residence so that they will see the need to bank with them so that others will emulate their footprints.
Climaxing the event was the officially commissioning of the UBA Sierra Leone Adonkia branch by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, John Henry Omaku and the UBA Team which was followed by a conducted tour of the branch.
