UBA Executives Chioma Mang, Michelle Nwoga Honoured at Guardian Women Festival

Chioma Mang, Chief Executive Officer of Africa 1 at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, and Michelle Nwoga, UBA’s Group Chief Experience Officer, were celebrated figures at the 2026 Guardian Woman Festival. Both leaders received prestigious Special Recognition Awards for their impactful leadership and contributions to the banking sector, customer experience enhancement, and overall corporate influence throughout Africa.

The awards were presented during the closing ceremony of The Guardian's 'Seven Women Wonder' category, an event that convened prominent leaders from business, philanthropy, and civil society to honour women driving significant positive change.

These accolades further highlight UBA's ongoing dedication to fostering female leadership at senior executive levels within the financial industry and its commitment to service excellence across the continent.

In their acceptance speeches, both Chioma Mang and Michelle Nwoga emphasized UBA's strong focus on women's advancement, noting the bank's consistent efforts to create opportunities for women to lead, innovate, and influence the future trajectory of African banking. Chioma Mang stated, "I share this honour with every woman globally, particularly those in banking and finance, and especially the women at UBA who diligently work to redefine Africa's financial landscape." Michelle Nwoga added, "This award reflects the power of empathetic and effective leadership by women. Exceptional customer experience originates from a genuine belief in the people we serve, ultimately leading to outstanding results."

Also honoured at the festival's 'Seven Wonder Women' category were Bukola Smith, CEO of FSDH Merchant Bank; Mobolaji Adeniyi, President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects; broadcaster Debby Odutayo; Jennifer Obayuwana, Executive Director of Polo Luxury; Nana Maidugi, Head of Sustainability and ESG at NSIA; Bukola Moyo Babajide, Founder of Female Techpreneur Founders Lounge; and Adenike Macaulay, Chief Executive Officer of Wakanow.

The 2026 Guardian Woman Festival concluded a month dedicated to celebrating impactful achievements and leadership. Its final segment focused on collective social action by acknowledging charities and supporting organisations making significant contributions to communities in Nigeria and beyond.

Anita Athena Ibru, Co-convener of the Festival, explained the strategic expansion to honour institutions alongside individuals this year. "It's crucial to acknowledge the dedicated women working diligently behind the scenes. This recognition reinforces the understanding that when women unite with a shared purpose, regardless of their role – whether executive or volunteer – remarkable outcomes are achievable. We aim to spotlight women as key drivers of charitable initiatives and advocates for social progress."

This year's festival broadened its scope to amplify the often-unrecognized work of women-led philanthropic groups. The philanthropies recognised included Small World, Child Advocacy Health Initiative, Global Survivors Fund, Mama’s Breakfast Club, and ARA NINI Health.

United Bank for Africa stands as one of Africa's largest employers in the financial sector, with a workforce of 25,000 employees and a customer base exceeding 45 million globally. UBA operates in twenty African countries, alongside the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates, offering a full spectrum of banking services and leading in financial inclusion and technological innovation.