United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has again been recognised for its strong support for small businesses in Nigeria. The bank won four top awards at the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Service Ambassador Awards, which took place in Lagos over the weekend. This further confirms UBA’s reputation as a major driver of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.
In a statement released on Monday, the bank said it won the DBN Award for Highest Impact on MSMEs in Nigeria, Highest Impact on Women MSMEs, Highest Impact in the North-Central Zone, and the highest award of the night — the Platinum Service Ambassador Award.
The Development Bank of Nigeria explained that the awards are given to financial institutions that have gone above and beyond to improve access to finance for MSMEs and promote financial inclusion, especially in underserved areas and among disadvantaged groups.
Receiving the Platinum Service Ambassador Award on behalf of the bank, UBA’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr Muyiwa Akinyemi, said the awards show how deeply the bank is committed to growing the economy in an inclusive way.
He said, “We are deeply honoured to be recognised by the Development Bank of Nigeria for our efforts in driving sustainable growth and empowerment for MSMEs, particularly women-led businesses and enterprises in Nigeria.”
Mr Akinyemi added that the bank is focused on giving small businesses the support they need to succeed. “These awards are a testament to our strategic focus on providing accessible financing, capacity building, and innovative solutions that enable small businesses to thrive. We remain committed to fostering economic resilience and prosperity across Nigeria.”
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank of Nigeria, Mr Tony Okpanachi, praised UBA’s efforts in helping small businesses grow. He said the bank has shown strong and consistent dedication to supporting MSMEs, especially women entrepreneurs and people in less-served areas of the country.
“UBA has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to alleviating financing constraints faced by MSMEs in Nigeria. Their impactful interventions, especially in supporting women entrepreneurs and underserved regions, align perfectly with DBN’s mandate,” Okpanachi said.
He further noted that DBN is proud to celebrate UBA’s success and urged the bank to keep raising the bar when it comes to supporting MSMEs in Nigeria.
This latest recognition adds to UBA’s growing list of achievements. The bank has long positioned itself as a reliable partner for entrepreneurs across Nigeria and Africa. Its support for women-owned businesses and operations in rural areas has stood out in recent years, earning the bank respect from both government and private sector observers.
In a related development, the UBA Foundation, which is the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, recently won the ‘Philanthropy of the Year’ award at the 2025 THISDAY Awards. The foundation was praised for its continued investments in education, health, youth empowerment, and community development projects.
UBA, which is led by its Group Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu, celebrated its 75th anniversary earlier this year, marking decades of service in Nigeria’s banking sector. The bank operates in 20 African countries and has branches in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the United Arab Emirates.
With this latest recognition from the DBN, the bank has once again shown its focus on building a strong economic future through the empowerment of small businesses and entrepreneurs.
