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Mr. Ramon & A guest. |
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc on Wednesday celebrated this year’s Africa Day in commemoration of African unity with the theme; ‘The importance of reflecting our African culture in global success stories.’
The
event, which marked the fourth edition of its annual UBA Africa Conversations,
was held at the Tony Elumelu Amphitheater at the UBA House in Lagos.
The
UBA Africa Conversations was established in May 2019 as a hallmark
initiative in a series of celebrations for Africa Day. The conversations
provide a platform for African and global audiences to connect with global
thought leaders both in the private and public sectors, on their African
journey, in a quest to change the narrative on Africa from desolate to successful.
This
year’s conversation underscores the tremendous shift in Africa’s cultural
influence – from Afrobeat to African films; Big African fashion
labels and African authors; entertainment and culture. The African continent is
creating positive impact globally.
UBA’s
Deputy Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, who welcomed the panelists and the
guests to the event stated that as Africa’s global bank, UBA remains at the
forefront of supporting businesses across the continent.
“It
is from Africa that UBA Africa was set up. UBA has invested so much in Africa.
We are in 20 African countries and 4 countries outside Africa; Our focus has
always been on driving investments into Africa, through conversations such as
this.
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Nasir Ramon, UBA's Head of Media Relations. |
As
always, UBA brought together a rich and diverse panel including Legendary
African musician and Songwriter, Youssou Madjiguène Ndour, who gave the keynote
address at the event, speaking on the need for collaboration to boost the
continent’s fortunes. “Young people in Africa have a lot of questions and we
have to listen to them and see how together we can be a solution for Africa. We
need to understand that there is a lot to do. Together we can make it,” Ndour
said.
The
Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Humphrey Desmond Geiseb
talked about how globalisation has been good for Africa. He said: “Of course,
there are still some gaps, there are still a lot of things about Africa that is
not known, and I believe that culture and Arts can help to get it right for
us.” He added that UBA’s foray as an African bank into the United States of
America is a testament to this fact.
The
former Commissioner for Tourism, Lagos State, Steve Ayorinde, who also sat on
the panel, pointed out that the liberalization of the media and digital content
is helping to improve the African narrative.
“As
Africans, we are at the point where no one denigrates the African culture
anymore. Indeed, there is still a gap, but we are bridging that gap,” he said.
African
Movie Academy Award Winning Ghanaian Actress, Lydia Forson, who appreciated
UBA’s contribution towards changing the African narrative, spoke to how the
African culture is now more widely accepted around the world.
“It
is great to see a bank like UBA being intentional about promoting Africa. Now,
the world gets to see more of us, because, we have started to tell our own
stories.”
On
his part, young talented fashion designer, Kenneth Ize, said that the continent
holds a lot of potential that we are yet to tap into. “Africa is our home, our
culture, and we have to do everything to preserve our culture,” he said.
Television
Anchor and journalist, Laila Salami-Johnson, who moderated the panel emphasized “Our creativity is really putting Africa on the map.”
Africa
Day has been celebrated every May 25th, since 1963, across the African
continent and worldwide. The day was inaugurated by the Organization of African
Unity, in celebration of the unity, diversity and beauty of Africa and its
people. UBA, one of Africa’s leading financial services institutions, with a
pan-African footprint spanning 20 African countries and globally in the United
States of America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and France, is
fully committed to unifying Africa and continues to lead the narrative focused
on the development, growth, and unity of Africa.
United
Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering
banking services to more than twenty-five (25) million customers, across 1,000
business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries.
Culled
from the "Global Financial Digest".
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