By Francis Ajuonuma
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa Plc, has shown an impressive leap in gross earnings, growing from N853.2bn recorded at the end of 2022 to close at N2.08tn on December 31, 2023.
The bank audited financial results for the full year ended December 2023 indicated that UBA’s gross profit rise represents a strong 143 per cent growth
This was revealed in the 2023 financial filed by the Bank at Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGx) on Monday.
The financial report also showed that the banks’ total assets rose remarkably by 90.22 per cent, doubling the N10trn mark, to close at N20.65trn in December 2023; up from N10.86 trillion in 2022.
Despite the highly challenging global economic and business environment, UBA recorded a laudable profit before tax, with the exponential growth of 277 per cent, to close the year under review at N758bn, rising from N201bn recorded at the end of the 2022 financial year; while profit after tax (PAT) grew by 257 per cent from N170bn in 2022, to N608bn in the year under consideration.
Consequently, UBA Group Shareholders’ Funds rose from N922bn as of December 2022 to close the 2023 financial year at N2trn, achieving an impressive growth of 120.2 per cent, compared to the prior year.
A statement added, “In the year under consideration, UBA Group’s cost-to-income ratio dropped from 59.2 per cent, in 2022, to 37.2 per cent pointing at the Group’s improving efficiency.”
Also, in fulfilment of the promise made by the UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, to shareholders at the last Annual General Meeting, the bank proposed a final dividend of N2.30 kobo for every ordinary share of 50 kobo, for the financial year ended December 31, 2023.
The final dividend is subject to the ratification of the shareholders during its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The statement added, “Also worthy of note, UBA recorded a 61.3 percent growth in loans to customers, moving up to N5.5trn in 2023, whilst customer deposits improved by 90.31 percent to N14.9trn, compared to N7.8trn recorded in the corresponding period of 2022, reflecting increased customer confidence, enhanced customer experience, successes from the ongoing business transformation programme and the deepening of its retail banking franchise.”
Commenting on the results, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, said, “I am very pleased with the unprecedented results achieved by our Group in FY2023. The Group made a profit before tax of N758bn, from N201bn in the prior year. The balance sheet also grew to N20.7trn from N10.8trn in the previous year.
“The Group’s shareholder’s funds crossed N2trn from N922bn in 2022, whilst total assets crossed the N20trn mark (90.2 per cent YoY growth). The Group is well positioned for further business expansion in FY2024 having closed FY2023 with a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 32.6 per cent.”
He added that the bank’s diversified business model (Pan-African and International strategy) is justified by the contribution of its Ex-Nigeria business to the Group’s results and reinforces its resolve to expand our market share of customers, funding, digital, and transaction banking businesses across Africa.
“Driven by our customer service and execution-led delivery model, we will continue to expand our market share create value for our shareholders, and meet the expectations of our various stakeholders,” the GMD added.
UBA’s Executive Director of Finance and Risk Management, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the 2023 full year was a particularly eventful year, with galloping inflation and currency depreciation ravaging key markets, amidst pockets of regional conflicts and security challenges.
“I am delighted however at the strong growth in earnings and profitability recorded in the year. The Group conservatively set up significant impairment reserves against its overall risk assets portfolio considering the latent impact of the macroeconomic headwinds on our credit portfolio. Consequently, the cost of risk grew to 3.09 per cent from 0.63 per cent in the prior year,” Nwaghodoh said.
On the expectation for the 2024 financial year, Nwaghodoh said, “The Group remains fervently committed to sustainable growth and maintaining its strong compliance and risk management practices culture even as we drive our business through the next phase of growth.”
