The Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, has expressed deep sorrow over the devastating incident at Afriland Towers that claimed the lives of some staff members on Tuesday.
In a heartfelt message, Elumelu described the tragedy as a painful reminder of the value of human life above all else. “No words can capture the magnitude of this loss, not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of us who worked beside them,” he said.
The billionaire entrepreneur revealed that he was enroute to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) when the news broke, but he immediately cut short his trip to return to Lagos as a mark of respect to the victims.
Elumelu further urged compassion and solidarity among staff as the organisation navigates its grief. “Yesterday was a stark reminder of what truly matters: our irreplaceable people, those who walk through our doors each day and share our mission,” he noted.
The UBA Chairman also announced plans to hold a memorial service in the coming days to honour the departed while providing support to their families. He extended gratitude to emergency responders, first aid workers, and members of the public who showed courage during the crisis.
To pay tribute, a minute’s silence was observed today at 12:00 noon across all UBA Group companies.
Elumelu closed with a prayerful reflection: “May this never happen again in our Group. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.”
