At the recently concluded 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Service Ambassador Awards held in Lagos, leading financial institutions were celebrated for their role in boosting small business growth across the country—with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc emerging as the biggest winner of the night.
UBA clinched four key awards in recognition of its outstanding impact on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide. The bank was awarded for having the Highest Impact on MSMEs, Highest Impact on Women MSMEs, Top Performing PFI in the North-Central Zone, and took home the coveted Platinum Service Ambassador Award—the highest honour of the ceremony.
The DBN Awards highlight the pivotal role played by financial institutions in fostering entrepreneurship and supporting underserved demographics, especially women and regional MSMEs. UBA’s recognition signals its consistent effort in empowering businesses and driving financial inclusion across Nigeria.
Receiving the Platinum Award on behalf of the bank, Deputy Managing Director, Muyiwa Akinyemi, expressed gratitude, saying:
“This recognition by DBN affirms our focus on supporting MSMEs, especially women-led enterprises, with financing, capacity building, and innovative tools that enable them to grow. UBA is proud to be at the forefront of building economic resilience and prosperity across Nigeria.”
In his remarks, DBN’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, praised UBA’s contributions to economic development.
“UBA continues to demonstrate a deep commitment to addressing financing gaps for MSMEs, especially in underserved regions. Their work aligns with DBN’s mission to strengthen Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
The Development Bank of Nigeria Service Ambassador Awards is an annual platform that honours banks and institutions actively transforming Nigeria’s MSME landscape. DBN works with partner financial institutions to ease access to finance and promote inclusive business growth through credit guarantees, risk-sharing, and capacity development.
UBA, with a footprint in over 20 African countries and offices in key global financial hubs including the US, UK, France, and UAE, remains a major driver of Africa’s financial progress. With 25,000 employees and more than 45 million customers worldwide, the bank continues to lead with innovation, inclusion, and impact.
