Tony Elumelu Steps Down as Chairman Of UBA, Emmanuel Nnorom Takes the Helm

United Bank for Africa Plc has announced that Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Group Chairman of UBA, will retire from the Board of Directors of UBA on 21 August 2026, upon the completion of the 12-year tenure limit prescribed for Non-Executive Directors of Banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

At its meeting held on 6 July 2026, the Board accepted Mr. Elumelu’s retirement and elected Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, a Non-Executive Director of the Bank, as his successor, with effect from 21 August 2026.

The Board places on record its profound appreciation to Mr. Elumelu for his visionary leadership and exceptional contribution to the strategic vision and institutional strength of the UBA Group.

Mr. Elumelu’s tenure has been a defining chapter in the Group’s history. Under his stewardship, UBA was transformed into a pan-African institution, operating in 20 African countries and 4 global financial centres and serving over 50 million customers.

Mr. Nnorom is a chartered accountant with over forty years’ experience in banking, finance and audit. He brings to the role extensive leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge of UBA.

Commenting on his retirement, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, said: “Serving United Bank for Africa has been one of the great privileges of my career. UBA has established a unique competitive position, across Africa and globally, and I leave the Board with great confidence in UBA’s future. Emmanuel Nnorom is a leader of integrity, experience and sound judgement, and I am confident that the Bank will continue to thrive under his leadership.”

Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, on his appointment, said: “I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, Management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders.”

𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬.

Today marks a defining moment in UBA’s journey as Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR concludes his tenure as Chairman of UBA Group. We celebrate not only years of visionary leadership, but the enduring institution he helped build—one designed to thrive for generations to come.

Under his leadership, UBA evolved from a Nigerian bank into Africa’s Global Bank, with a presence across 20 African countries and key international financial centres. His unwavering belief in Africa’s potential has connected businesses to opportunities, strengthened intra-African trade, expanded financial inclusion, and demonstrated that an African institution can compete with confidence on the global stage.

Here in Kenya, we are proud to be part of that legacy. Through UBA Kenya, we continue to support Kenyan businesses, entrepreneurs and investors by opening doors to opportunities across Africa through innovative banking, trade finance, cross-border payment solutions and strategic partnerships that drive regional growth.

As we begin a new chapter, we do so with confidence and purpose. We remain committed to building Africa’s leading financial institution, enabling trade and investment, empowering businesses and communities, and creating sustainable value for Africa and the world.

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