The Group Managing a Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, Phillips Oduoza has said that the future progress of Africa as a continent lies in the hands of its youthful population.
Oduoza spoke during the Future Awards and Summit where hundreds of youths gathered at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos to celebrate youths excelling in different aspects of life.
Oduoza said that UBA’s sponsorship of the event as a lead sponsor was part of its commitment to the development of the next generation of future leaders in Africa .
Represented by the Divisional, Head, e-Banking UBA Plc, Dr. Yinka Adedeji, Oduoza said that “Over 50 percent of Africans are youths and as a pan-African bank with operations in 19 African countries, UBA aligns its vision to the aspirations of the continent’s youthful population by developing tailor made products that aligns with their aspirations and ambitions.
For example, he said that the “Next Generation account also known as “NextGen” is specifically targeted at youths and is about building the next generation of educated and enlightened professionals, employees, entrepreneurs, self employed persons, from all walks of life, early in their financial life cycle.”
The Next Gen account, he said, allows account holders to have access to 24 hour online banking services on UBA’s highly acclaimed internet banking platform besides other privileges like free web portals, specially branded Mastercard, interest bearing savings accounts, career advisory, scholarships, work place experience schemes with the UBA Group, entrepreneurial skills development workshops and social media engagements.
He spoke during the presentation of the prize for “the Future Africa Award in Agriculture,” won by Samir Ibrahim and Charles Nichols, Founders of SunCulture, Kenya; a solar-powered irrigation kit which makes it simpler and cheaper for farmers to grow food. The kit replaces expensive diesel and petrol pumps.
UBA also endowed The Future Africa Awards “Young Person of the year,” which was won by Sangu Delle, Co-Founder, Cleanacwa, Ghana; a 27 year old entrepreneur from Ghana who built a Clean Water organisation that has impacted tens of thousands of people in rural Liberia and Ghana .
The prize was presented by the representative of President Goodluck Jonathan, Bonni Haruna, Minister of Youth Development and two time governor of Adamawa state.
The Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Minister of Solid Minerals, young entrepreneurs, students from different secondary and tertiary institutions, captains of industry, attended the awards ceremony.
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