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UBA’s Half-Year Profit Grows By 33% to N76.2 Billion

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Africa’s leading financial institution, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced its audited half-year financial results for the half-year ended June 30, 2021, showing impressive growth across all major income lines and performance indicators.

The pan African financial institution delivered a 33.4 percent appreciation in its profit before tax which rose to N76.2 billion as of June 2021, up from the N57.1 billion recorded in the same period of 2020. This translated to an annualized Return on Average Equity (RoAE) of 17.5 percent as against 14.4 percent a year earlier. This feat was recorded despite the challenging business and economic environment that emerged from the slow pace of activities following the global lockdown occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The results submitted to the Nigerian Exchange Limited showed that the group’s profit after tax stood at N60.6 billion, representing a significant rise by 36.3 percent, compared with the N44.4 billion recorded in the half-year of 2020.

Similarly, gross earnings grew to N316 billion, which was a five percent increase, from the N300.6 billion recorded as of June 2020.

According to the results, at June 30, 2021, the group’s total assets crossed the N8 trillion mark as it increased to N8.3 trillion, up from N7.7 trillion at the end of the 2020 financial year. Its customer deposit also crossed the N6 trillion mark, growing by 7.4 percent to N6.1 trillion in the period under review, compared with N5.7 trillion as of December 2020.

Furthermore, the group’s Shareholders’ Funds remained robust at N752.5 billion, up from N724.1 billion in December 2020, reflecting its strong capacity for internal capital generation.

In line with the bank’s culture of paying both interim and final cash dividends, the Board of Directors of UBA declared an interim dividend of 20 kobo per share for every ordinary share of 50 kobo each, held by its shareholders.

Commenting on the results, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, expressed delight over the bank’s performance in the first half of the year.

He added: “This has been a strong first half for us, as global economic recovery exceeded expectations, creating a positive rub-off on consumer and corporate confidence, savings, and investment activities.
“We saw this positively impact our business, as we continued to leverage our key strategic levers – People, Process and Technology, and our Customer-first philosophy, to revolutionize customer experience at UBA.”

He added that the bank’s investment in the Rest of Africa (excluding Nigeria) continues to yield good results for the group.

Uzoka added: “The benefits of pan-African business diversification accruing to the Group is once again evident, with gross earnings and interest income growth of 5.1 percent and 8.3 percent respectively, despite the low yield environment in our largest market, Nigeria.

“We are making remarkable progress on our strategy that is progressively positioning UBA as the bank of choice on the continent, driven by our emphasis on tech-led innovation and best customer experience.”

Continuing, the GMD pointed out that the bank recognizes the far-reaching effects of the pandemic on businesses globally, and remains focused on its promise to always provide our customers with the best banking experiences possible.

“Our first half 2021 (H1 2021) performance reflects our progressive efforts in building on the strong momentum that we started the year with. As a purpose-driven organization, we remain resolute in our drive for sustained growth in customer acquisition, transaction volumes, and balance sheet, as we consolidate our ‘Africa’s Global Bank’ market position in the years ahead, uplifting livelihoods across the continent,” Uzoka explained.

UBA’s Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), Ugo Nwaghodoh, on his part, noted that the bank’s goal was to achieve a marked improvement in earnings quality whilst maintaining positive operating leverage as well as top-notch asset quality.

“The Group recorded RoAE of 17.5 percent (from 15.1% in 2020H1) and a Net-Interest-Margin of 5.8 percent (from 5.4% in H12020) as we played the volatile yield environment diligently for the best return on our interest-earning assets.

“Capital position remained strong, with capital adequacy and liquidity ratios of 23.9 percent (22.4% in 2020H1) and 58.3 percent (58.2% in 2020H1) respectively. This is robust enough to support our growth ambitions,” he said.

The GCFO pointed out that even while the operating environment remains largely uncertain and volatile, despite marked improvement from Covid-19 induced macroeconomic stress, UBA will continue to build resilience through its geographically diversified business model to support headline earnings growth for the Group.

“We remain committed to our 18 percent and 15 percent respective RoAE and deposit growth guidance for FY 2021, as we continue to invest in growth opportunities across our geographies of operation, whilst managing capital and balance sheet prudently,” Nwaghodoh stated.

UBA offers banking services to more than twenty-five million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touchpoints, in 20 African countries.

With a presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and France, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance, and ancillary banking services.

BIG STORY

Dangote To Transport Refined Products By Sea — Official

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Dangote Group has announced plans to transport refined petroleum products by sea.

This information was shared in a statement on Sunday by Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, Senior Adviser to the Group President on Special Projects and Strategic Relations.

She highlighted the construction of a jetty in the Lekki Free Zone to facilitate bulk cargo handling during the refinery’s development.

“Today, we are exporting our products to many African countries through the seaport. We also plan to ease the pressure on the roads from the refinery by transporting finished petroleum products to other ports along the Nigerian coast by sea, for further distribution to the hinterland,” she said.

The initiative aims to alleviate road network pressure while enabling exports to other African nations.

The statement also mentioned that the Dangote Group, a key sponsor of the trade fair organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, drew a large crowd interested in learning about its new oil refinery, which has recently begun discharging petroleum products.

Attendees also explored the company’s various business units, including Dangote Fertiliser, Dangote Sugar, NASCON (Dangote Salt), and Dangote Cement.

Wali-Abdurrahman stated that participants were eager to learn about opportunities within the company.

The statement quoted participant Peter Ibrahim as saying, “I am here at the Dangote booth to find out what business and job opportunities are available at the Dangote Refinery. We know the company must have created several opportunities.”

Cement dealer Sale Sagir added, “Let me be honest. I came to this trade fair because of the Dangote Group.

I sell cement, but now I have come to find out what it takes to be a distributor of other products, especially the Dangote Petroleum products.”

Wali-Abdurrahman also mentioned the company’s investment in Compressed Natural Gas, stating, “To reduce our carbon footprint and costs, over the past decade, we have converted about a third of our fleet. This is an ongoing process, till we convert the entire fleet.”

The ACCI President, Chief Emeka Obegolu, commended the Dangote Group for its significant role in Nigeria’s industrialization.

Represented by Vice President Legal, Aisha Abdullahi, he remarked on the company’s “unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s development,” adding that “the taxes paid by the group have contributed significantly to national revenue, funding infrastructure projects and social programs that benefitmillions of Nigerians.”

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BIG STORY

Old English Supermarket Opens In Ibadan, Expands South-West Presence

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OldEnglish Superstores & Bakery has officially opened a new outlet in Bodija, Ibadan, further extending its reach across South-West Nigeria.

The firm is known for its high-quality bakery products and affordable groceries. Old English Supermarket has become a household name, providing unbeatable prices and a top-tier shopping experience.

The newly launched Bodija branch located at 39 Oshuntokun Avenue, Bodija Estate, adds to the brand’s rapidly expanding network of outlets in the region. Offering a broad range of products, from their signature bread to fresh produce and essential household items, the supermarket is designed to meet the diverse needs of Ibadan’s growing population.

During the opening ceremony, Akogun Lanre Alfred, the visionary entrepreneur behind Old English, shared his excitement about the new venture. “We are thrilled to bring Old English to the vibrant city of Ibadan. Our mission has always been to provide affordable, high-quality goods to families, and this new outlet is another step toward achieving that goal,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring that our customers experience convenience, affordability, and exceptional service in every location we open.”

With five successful outlets already operating in Lagos and Ogun states, the Bodija branch represents a key part of Old English’s ongoing expansion plan. Alfred added, “Our goal is to become the largest retailer in Nigeria and Africa. We want to help families save money while offering them access to fresh, nutritious food and high-quality goods at low prices.”

The company’s success stems from its customer-centric approach, combining visionary enterprise with diligent service. By adopting a mass distribution model that incorporates the input of stakeholders at every level, Old English has been able to seamlessly integrate accountability with commercial success.

As the supermarket chain continues to grow, Old English is determined to maintain its high standards of quality and customer satisfaction. The expansion in Ibadan, along with other outlets planned for the future, reflects the brand’s dedication to making premium goods and services easily accessible to all.

For Ibadan residents, the new Old English Supermarket in Bodija is a welcome addition, offering a reliable and affordable shopping option that aligns with the needs of the community.

“We’re here to make life easier for families,” Alfred emphasized. “By saving them money on groceries and other essentials, we’re giving them more room to live better. That’s what Old English is all about.

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BIG STORY

Federal Government To Supply 12m Barrels Crude To Dangote Refinery In October

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The Federal Government and Dangote Refinery have sealed a deal for the supply of 12 million barrels of crude oil to the facility in October.

This agreement falls under the innovative “Crude Oil for Naira” partnership between the Dangote Group and the Nigerian government.

Aliko Dangote, CEO of Dangote Refinery, confirmed this development in an interview with Bloomberg TV, stating that the crude oil supply is part of an ongoing agreement to enable local processing and production of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel for domestic consumption.

“We are working towards a solid agreement with the federal government that ensures energy security for the country. This means no more fuel queues,” Dangote stated. “The government has committed to providing us with crude oil, and in October, they will deliver 12 million barrels, which translates to roughly 390,000 barrels a day. We will refine this crude to produce gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel for the local market. Any surplus will be exported.”

He noted that it will help bring 50 to 60 per cent of currently non-operational filling stations back into service, drastically improving access to fuel across the country.

“The deal with the government ensures that we sell the refined products to all marketers, which will mean the reopening of 50 per cent to 60 per cent of our petrol stations that have been idle. This will also reduce the costs tied to having ships floating off the coasts of Lome and elsewhere. In terms of demurrage alone, we are looking at saving over $1 billion,” Dangote added.

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