The launch of the Braille Account Opening Form took place at the bank's head office in Lagos, Nigeria, with key executives, esteemed guests, and renowned Nigerian musician Cobhams Asuquo in attendance.
This innovative solution marks the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, demonstrating UBA's commitment to inclusivity in the financial industry.
During the event, Mr Ugo Nwaghodoh, the Executive Director of Finance and Risk Management at UBA, emphasised the bank's dedication to ensuring the comfort and accessibility of physically challenged individuals in their lifelong engagement with the financial sector.
Nwaghodoh stated that the Braille Account Opening Form enables visually impaired customers to have the same opportunities as other customers, promoting equal financial inclusion for all.
The UBA Braille Account Opening Form, developed in collaboration with the Anglo-Nigerian Welfare Association for the blind, caters specifically to the needs of visually impaired individuals.
This solution empowers blind customers to independently initiate and complete the account opening process, fostering their seamless integration into the financial system.
Previously, visually impaired individuals faced limitations in accessing banking services, relying on others to assist them.
However, with this groundbreaking initiative, UBA is breaking down barriers and prioritising the needs of all its customers, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
Cobhams Asuquo, a prominent musician who is blind, lauded the braille account opening form as an innovative initiative that showcases UBA as a compassionate bank attentive to the needs of the blind and disabled community. Asuquo expressed gratitude for the freedom and independence this initiative brings, allowing visually impaired individuals to have control over their banking activities.
He commended UBA for leading the way in promoting inclusivity and urged other institutions to follow suit, emphasising that banking services should be designed with humanity in mind.
Dare Dairo, the General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), commended UBA for conceiving this laudable initiative. He expressed his delight and confirmed that the Braille Account Opening Form would also be replicated in the 19 African countries where UBA operates.
Dairo acknowledged that while the government cannot do everything, institutions like UBA play a vital role in pioneering initiatives that inspire others to follow suit.
With a workforce of 35,000 employees and a customer base exceeding 35 million globally, UBA is a major employer and financial service provider on the African continent. The introduction of the UBA Braille Account Opening Form demonstrates the bank's commitment to leveraging innovative solutions to empower visually impaired individuals and promote financial inclusivity.