You know how sometimes the best conversations happen when you’re not trying too hard? That is exactly what we had in mind when we recently invited some of Nigeria’s leading journalists and media personalities to our office.
The event was not the regular media meeting, It was just good people, good conversations, and some really good cocktails and bites at SpaceNXT, our co-creation hub where innovators and creators come to dream up new things.
Union Bank has been around for over 108 years and we have seen a lot. We started in the days when banking meant telegrams and handwritten ledgers and now, we are in a world of simple and smart banking. It has been quite a journey. But through all of it, every single decade of change, the media has been there, telling our story, asking the tough questions, keeping us honest. 
In attendance were senior members of Union Bank’s leadership team, including Taiwo Shote, Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Lagos and West, Olufunmilola Aluko, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, and Tosin Ibikunle, Head of Strategy and Planning.
Our Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Mrs. Olufunmilola Aluko, put it beautifully when she told our guests: “This event is simply about people. We wanted to create a space that is unhurried and human, where we can meet without the formality of press statements because behind those exchanges are real people who share a deep commitment to storytelling, to truth, and to impact.”
And yes, we talked about work (we are bankers, we can’t help ourselves), but it felt different. We shared where Union Bank is today; on solid ground, meeting all our obligations and honestly pretty excited about what is next. We have been working hard behind the scenes, strengthening our systems, improving how we serve customers and getting ready for our next chapter.
As Tosin mentioned at the event, “Union Bank has diligently enhanced its systems and service experience in preparation for the next phase of growth. As we roll out new initiatives, we look forward to partnering with the media to tell our story with clarity, accuracy, and impact.”
The afternoon flew by. We showed everyone around Stallion Plaza, swapped stories, laughed a lot and just enjoyed being in the same room together. No agendas, no formalities, just the kind of connection that reminds you why you love what you do and that is really what Union Bank is all about these days. Whether we are talking to customers, partners or friends in the media, we believe the best relationships are built on honesty, openness and genuine human connection. Because after 108 years, we have learned that is what really matters.
