Business
UBA Shareholders To Get 150% Dividends Increase In FY2023 – Alawuba
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc says that in line with the Group’s culture of paying both interim and final cash dividends, the Board has approved an interim dividend of 50k per share, which represents over 150 percent increase over the financial year 2022 .
UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, who made this known said, said that the dividends increase is as a result of the exceptional performance recorded by the bank during the first half year ended 2023.
Alawuba said: “The Group recorded strong double-digit growth in revenues and profits from its operations, and this underscored the Group’s commitment to consistently deliver value to its shareholders.”
A look at the bank’s financials showed that it recorded a profit before tax (PBT) of N404 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2023.
The PBT represents an extraordinary increase of 371 per cent, when compared to N85.75 billion recorded in the first half of 2022.
The increment translated to an annualised Return on Average Equity of 57.7 per cent as against 17.1 per cent a year earlier.
Profit After Tax N378.24bn
The results also showed a profit after tax (PAT) of N378.24 billion, representing a leap of 437.8 per cent over H1 2022.
Operating Income grew by 206.6 per cent to N783.96 billion in June 2023; higher than N255.67 billion reported a year earlier.
The Group delivered a 164 per cent growth in its Gross Earnings which rose to N981.78 billion as at June 2023, up from N372.36 billion recorded last year in June 2022.
Equally, the bank’s total assets continued a strong upward trajectory, rising above the N15 trillion mark, as it hits N15.38 trillion, representing a 41.7 per cent leap up from N10.86 trillion recorded at the end of last year.
Customer Deposits also rose by a sharp 42.4 per cent to N11.14 trillion in the period under consideration; as against N7.8 trillion recorded at the end of 2022.
N1.7 Trillion Shareholders Fund
The Group’s shareholders’ funds stood at N1.7 trillion, with a capital adequacy ratio of 36.4%”.
Alawuba added that the Group made progress in digital payments, retail penetration and also benefitted from the effect of revaluation gains, arising from the harmonization of foreign exchange rates at the different access windows in Nigeria.
Harmonization of Currency Exchange Rates
He said that the result also reflects the effect of sizeable revaluation gains, arising from the harmonization of currency exchange rates in Nigeria.
Our reporting currency found a new exchange level at about N756 to $1 as of 30 June 2023, compared to N465 at the beginning of the year.
The results again demonstrate the benefits of our long-held diversification strategy across Africa and globally.
The growth of our international business, most recently in the UAE, only reinforces this earnings quality.
UBA’s Executive Director, Finance and Risk, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the half year 2023 financial numbers reflect an excellent performance across key metrics, as the bank diligently executes its strategic priorities.
Our Priorities For The Year
“Our HY2023 financial numbers reflect excellent performance across key metrics, as we diligently execute our priorities for the year.
Annualized return on average equity at 57.7% was bolstered by improved operating income and revaluation gains,” he explained.
Nwaghodoh also pointed out that the Group maintains robust capital buffers to support business growth and loss absorbency.
Business
Tony Elumelu’s United Capital Secures approval to operate in Ethiopia
Elumeu lauded the transformational Prime Minister of Ethiopia, His Excellency @AbiyAhmedAli , for promoting economic reforms and regional cooperation, the Director General of Ethiopian Capital Market Authority @CMAEthiopia , Ms. Hana Tehelku, and the team at @UnitedCap on this landmark achievement.
United Capital Group has again secured regulatory approvals to commence operations in Ethiopia.
Its Chairman, Tony Elumelu, broke the news on Tuesday, via his official X.
” This development is particularly noteworthy because Ethiopia only recently opened its financial sector to foreign participation, making United Capital’s entry a historic step for both the company and the ongoing integration of African capital markets,” said Elumelu.
Last month, United Capital commenced operations in Rwanda, marking its formal entry into East Africa and reinforcing its ambition to build a leading continental financial services institution.
The Group’s newly established entities include United Capital Trustees Rwanda Limited, licensed to provide trusteeship services, and United Capital Financial Services Rwanda Limited, licensed to offer investment management services, including portfolio management, investment advisory, capital mobilisation, capital market advisory, and fund management solutions.
With this development, United Capital now operates in 11 countries, including Nigeria, with a strong presence in key African markets, a recent expansion into the eight countries within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) region, alongside a growing footprint in East Africa.
According to Elumelu, African institutions are increasingly leading, competing, and succeeding across the continent.
For decades, Africa witnessed foreign capital flowing in while profits largely flowed out.
That narrative is beginning to change.
This is Africapitalism in action — a vision that recognizes the importance of both indigenous and international capital working together to finance Africa’s development and unlock shared prosperity.
Elumeu lauded the transformational Prime Minister of Ethiopia, His Excellency @AbiyAhmedAli , for promoting economic reforms and regional cooperation, the Director General of Ethiopian Capital Market Authority @CMAEthiopia , Ms. Hana Tehelku, and the team at @UnitedCap on this landmark achievement.
Business
Lagos developing world – class new business district —Sanwo-Olu
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos was deliberately building a globally competitive economy driven by innovation, infrastructure and private-sector participation.
• Invest Lagos Summit 3.0: Secretary to the Lagos State Government, ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin (right); Member, House of Representatives, Kafilat Ogbara; Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Tunbosun Alake; Chairman, Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council (CWEIC), Lord Jonathan Marland; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, Mrs Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sam Egube, Dr Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji and members of the State Executives Council at the opening of Invest Lagos 3.0, themed: “Lagos – The Business Gateway to Africa”, in Lagos, yesterday.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed that as part of efforts to deepen access to global capital, his administration is developing the Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC), envisioned as a world-class financial district that would strengthen the state’s position as a gateway for investment into Africa.
Speaking yesterday at the third edition of the Invest Lagos Summit, attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, other governors, foreign investors, development finance institutions and business leaders, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos was deliberately building a globally competitive economy driven by innovation, infrastructure and private-sector participation.
Sanwo-Olu said that the state had recorded significant economic progress in recent years through targeted reforms across transportation, digital infrastructure and industrial development.
Highlighting key infrastructure achievements, Sanwo-Olu cited investments in road networks, waterways and rail transportation, describing them as critical enablers of economic growth and investor confidence.
The governor noted that Lagos was increasingly serving as a gateway to African markets and global capital, positioning itself at the centre of continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to him, Lagos remains one of the continent’s most strategic economic hubs, with a population exceeding 25 million and a gross domestic product steadily approaching the $300 billion mark.
Official CBN Exchange Rates
US Dollar (USD) ₦1, 362.84
Great British Pound (GBP) ₦1,821. 30
EURO (EUR) ₦1,574. 53
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,714. 05
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.52
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦200.99
West African CFA (XOF) ₦2.42
West African Unit Account (WAUA) ₦1,863.83
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦302. 83
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦82.75
Black Market Rates
US Dollar (USD) Buy ₦1,395 Sell ₦1,400
Great British Pound (GBP) Buy ₦1,860 Sell: ₦1, 880
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,000 Sell ₦1, 100
South African Rand (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE Dirham Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370
Chinese Yuan Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200
Ghana Cedi (GHS) Buy ₦100 Sell ₦115
West African CFA Buy ₦2,450 Sell ₦2550
Central African CFA Buy ₦2,320 Sell 2,400
Australian Dollar Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
Sources: CBN / Aboki Forex
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