United Bank for Africa Plc has appointed Ibrahim Puri as a Non-Executive Director, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The bank disclosed the appointment in a regulatory filing signed by its Group Company Secretary, Bili Odum, on Thursday.

Commenting on the appointment, UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, said Puri’s experience and expertise would strengthen the bank’s board and support the group’s continued growth.

“I congratulate Ibrahim Puri on his appointment as a Non-Executive Director. The Board is confident that his extensive experience, depth of expertise and sound judgement will further strengthen the Board and contribute meaningfully to the continued growth and success of the Group,” Elumelu said.

Puri’s profile

Puri is a financial services and corporate executive with more than 35 years of experience spanning banking, fintech, telecommunications and fast-moving consumer goods.

He previously served as an Executive Director on UBA’s board before retiring from the position in 2022.

He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of several companies, including Nigerian Breweries Plc and 9mobile, now known as T2.

Puri has also attended executive programmes at Harvard University, the University of Oxford and Euromoney London.

He holds a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance from Bayero University, Kano, and has expertise in areas including structured finance, negotiation, corporate governance and turnaround management.

UBA awaits CBN approval for half-year results

Meanwhile, UBA said its board had approved the group’s audited financial statements for the half-year ended June 30, 2026.

According to the regulatory filing, the financial statements were approved at the board meeting held on August 13 but are still awaiting approval from the CBN before they can be released to the public.

The bank said investors and other stakeholders would be notified once regulatory approval had been obtained.

“Consequently, the Bank’s closed period will continue to run until 24 hours after the 2026 Half-Year Audited Accounts and Financial Statements are released to the public,” the lender stated.

UBA operates across 20 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, United States, France and the United Arab Emirates.

The financial institution provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services to more than 50 million customers globally.