Yesterday, I addressed all UBA Regional Managers from across Nigeria, at the Closing Session of their 2024 Immersion Programme.
54 energised, dynamic, exciting and excited young women and men – who have already proved their UBA DNA, and are now stepping up as future leaders of our Group.
I shared my own experience, as a branch manager, and how that catalytic role shaped me, making me who and what I am today.
I emphasised the power of investing in people and nurturing talent, creating a healthy working environment and emphasised the status this position holds and the critical role a Regional Manager plays to the overall success of our Group.
The role needs a shift in perspective, a maturity, a move from tactics to strategy. I provided key takeaways to inspire that shift in perspective and the importance of their positions:
- As an RM, you must understand your role and see yourself as your region’s CEO, responsible for setting strategic goals, driving growth, and ensuring operational excellence. The buck does stop with you.
- You are your own Chief Internal Control Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. Again, regulatory compliance is your responsibility.
- You are the HR Manager of your region. You should know and nurture the talent you need, more than anyone else and go into the market to get just that. You must grow the individuals working with you and see the signs of their capacities.
- You are the Chief Customer Service Officer. Your customers are your priority. You must focus on pleasing your customers and the quality-of-service delivery, day in, day out.
- You are your own Treasurer, managing liquidity, funding, and financial risks to ensure stable operations and regulatory compliance in your region.
- You are your Chief Marketing Officer and Brand Custodian, developing and implementing strategies to enhance our Group’s image, ensure consistent messaging, and strengthen customer loyalty in your region. This starts every day – checking branches – are they clean, tidy, do they sell UBA, staff appearance, how our fleet looks – every moment at UBA is an opportunity to positively channel our brand.
To conclude, I reiterated the need for a good balance of customer satisfaction, team motivation, and risk management, to drive both customer loyalty and the bank’s profitability.
To our Regional Managers, what you owe us and the people behind you is your success. Let your success signal and inspire your colleagues to achieve greater accomplishments. We are all routing for you, and I am sure you will exceed expectations.
Best of luck!
