The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has admitted an additional 3.16 billion ordinary shares of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, to its Daily Official List, signalling a major enhancement of the bank’s market capitalisation whilst also deepening liquidity on the capital market.

The NGX noted this in a confirmatory letter to the bank, dated January 12, 2026, and signed by Head, Issuer Regulation Department at NGX, Godstime Iwenkehai, who explained that the additional shares were listed following the successful conclusion of UBA’s recent rights issuance exercise.

“Following the submission of all post-approval documents, please be informed that United Bank for Africa Plc’s Rights Issue of 3,156,869,665 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N50.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every 13 ordinary shares held were formally listed on the Daily Official List of Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on , Monday, 12 January 2026”, Iwenkehai stated in the letter.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, who received the letter, commended the confirmation, as he noted that the move underscores robust investor confidence in the bank’s capitalisation strategy and future prospects.

“We welcome the formal confirmation from NGX on the listing of our rights issue shares. This successful transaction reflects strong investor confidence in UBA’s financial strength, governance, and growth strategy. Needless to say that the additional capital will further support our Pan-African and global expansion, and enhance our capacity to deliver sustainable value to all stakeholders,” Alawuba stated.

In November 2024, the bank had raised N239 billion, which elevated its capital base to N355 billion at that time, while the recently concluded rights issue has injected an additional N158 billion, bringing the bank’s total capital to N513 billion.

This latest influx means UBA’s qualifying capital base now surpasses the N500 billion requirement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), thereby exceeding the recapitalisation minimum for banks with international authorisation.

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group-wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.

Unity Bank Plc has disbursed over N270 million in grants to young Nigerian entrepreneurs under its Youth Entrepreneurship Development Initiative: Corpreneurship Challenge, bringing the total number of beneficiaries since inception in 2019 to 608 corps members nationwide.

The initiative, implemented in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program, continues to equip fresh graduates with the funding, confidence, and support required to launch and scale viable businesses.

In the most recent edition of the Corpreneurship Challenge, held between November 18 and December 9, 2025, across 10 NYSC orientation camps nationwide, 30 youth corps members emerged as winners during the Batch C, Stream I, 2025 exercise of the program.

The latest beneficiaries were selected from orientation camps in Lagos, Delta, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kwara, Enugu, Abia, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Akwa Ibom, and Plateau (Jos), after pitching innovative business ideas across diverse sectors of the economy.

Unity Bank’s cumulative investment in the Corpreneurship Challenge underscores the Bank’s long-standing commitment to youth empowerment, MSME development, and job creation in Nigeria.

Speaking on the continued impact of the initiative, Unity Bank’s Divisional Head, Retail & SME, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, reaffirmed the Bank’s belief in entrepreneurship as a catalyst for economic transformation.

“At Unity Bank, we recognize that entrepreneurship remains one of the most effective tools for tackling youth unemployment and driving inclusive economic growth. Through the Corpreneurship Challenge, we are not only providing financial support but also instilling confidence in young graduates to transform viable ideas into sustainable businesses. Reaching over 600 beneficiaries since inception reinforces our belief in the immense potential of Nigeria’s youth,” she said.

Mrs. Abimbola further emphasized the program’s role in strengthening Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem and creating long-term economic value.

“Small and medium-scale enterprises are the backbone of any resilient economy. By supporting corps members at the earliest stage of their entrepreneurial journey, we are helping to build businesses that can create jobs, stimulate local economies, and make meaningful contributions to national development. Our focus is on impact that goes beyond grants, impact that translates into lasting livelihoods,” she added.

The Corpreneurship Challenge provides a competitive platform where corps members pitch business ideas, assessed on originality, feasibility, market demand, scalability, and job-creation potential. Successful participants receive financial grants to kick-start or expand their ventures, alongside exposure to business guidance and mentorship.

Since its launch, the initiative has supported youth-led businesses across value chains, including fashion, agribusiness, food processing, creative services, manufacturing, and retail. Over the years, it has become an integral part of the NYSC experience, attracting thousands of applications annually and earning national recognition for its contribution to youth empowerment.

By sustaining and expanding the Corpreneurship Challenge, Unity Bank continues to reinforce its role as a strategic partner in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial and MSME development landscape.

In the spirit of the festive season, Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive community support through a charitable outreach to Oluyole Cheshire Home in Ibadan. The visit, carried out through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), provided food items and essential supplies to children living with disabilities at the home.

Speaking at the outreach, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Meksley Nwagboh, emphasized that the exercise was not just an act of seasonal giving but part of the bank’s broader mission to advance social inclusion and welfare.

“Under the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme, our staff-led CSR initiative, we empower our employees to participate in community development projects; and one of such projects is our donation here today to the Home.

“This Home caters to children with special needs who are some of the most deprived members of our society and we just want to contribute our quota towards their welfare,” Nwagboh said.

He further explained that the outreach which was spearheaded by the Visionary Team of newly inducted employees, forms a key component of Fidelity Bank’s onboarding programme. Through this platform, new staff are introduced to the bank’s CSR values and immediately tasked with identifying and executing impactful community projects.

“At Fidelity Bank, our CSR pillars are education, health, social welfare, the environment, and youth empowerment; and we ensure every new staff member is grounded in these principles,” he added. “The Visionary Team has done an excellent job by showing that beyond banking, we owe society a duty of care.”

Items donated to the home include foodstuffs, toiletries and other essential supplies intended to ease the home’s operating costs during the festive season and beyond.

Receiving the items on behalf of the home, Caregiver and a senior representative for the Home, Mr. Jimoh Taiwo, expressed deep appreciation for the gesture while calling on Nigerians and organisations to emulate such acts of kindness.

“We sincerely appreciate Fidelity Bank for this gesture. It means a lot to the children and to the home,” he said. “We want other stakeholders to support us like Fidelity Bank has done. Well-meaning individuals and organisations should emulate this gesture by putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged during this period.”

With this outreach, Fidelity Bank continues to strengthen its legacy of community support, inclusion, and shared progress—demonstrating that impactful giving remains at the heart of its corporate culture.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.