The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank of Nigeria, Yetunde B. Oni, has challenged a select group of Nigeria’s emerging leaders to embrace personal growth, resilience, and ethical leadership through a framework she described as THRIVE.
Speaking during an engagement with 30 fellows of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Oni shared practical lessons from her over three decades of professional experience, urging the young leaders to develop the character and discipline required for impactful leadership.
The fellows, selected from more than 25,000 applicants, are participants in the Lagos State Government initiative established to nurture future leaders through mentorship, training, and public service exposure.
At the session, Oni introduced the THRIVE model as a guide for leadership and personal development. According to her, the framework encourages young people to Take ownership of relationships, Honour God, Recharge and refresh, Invest in growth, Value their work, and Embrace setbacks.
She stressed that leadership goes beyond professional competence and requires intentional relationship-building, continuous learning, and the ability to navigate challenges without losing focus.
“Leadership begins with the deliberate stewardship of the people around you. Relationships are not incidental to a career; they are infrastructure,” she told the fellows.
The Union Bank CEO also highlighted the importance of self-belief and courage in pursuing opportunities, recounting how she became the first woman to lead a Standard Chartered Bank operation in her market after applying for a role she initially doubted she would secure.
Drawing from her personal journey, Oni credited family support, mentorship, coaching, and strong values such as integrity, honesty, hard work, and respect as critical factors behind her success.
She encouraged the young leaders to remain committed to personal development, noting that continuous investment in knowledge and skills remains essential for relevance in an ever-changing world.
The session formed part of the leadership development activities of the Academy, which is facilitated by Africa Leadership Initiative West Africa (ALIWA) and focuses on raising ethical, visionary, and service-driven leaders for Nigeria.
Participants described the engagement as insightful, with discussions centring on leadership, personal growth, resilience, mentorship, and the importance of building meaningful relationships.
The interaction underscored Union Bank’s commitment to youth development and leadership cultivation, while reinforcing the Academy’s mission of equipping young Nigerians with the values, skills, and mindset needed to drive positive change in society.
