Union Bank in Ibusa: The Beginning and the End

By Prof Austin Uwandulu

Being a Response to "The Exit of Union Bank: Are Banks Afraid to Invest in Ibusa", An Article Published by Emeka Esogbue

Union Bank, Igbuzo was established in 1982 not 1991, as a compensation for the brutal murder of Mr. George Onyemem, father of Henry Onyemem and Mr Emmanuel Anuchi, father of Mrs Atuche and Mrs Onwuachi.

At the time, Mr Onyemem was the Manager while Emma Anuchi was the Accountant of Barclays Bank, now Union Bank, Asaba but temporarily located at Ogwashi-Uku, a neighbouring community of Igbuzo.

In honour of and in remembrance of these two illustrious sons of Igbuzo the Union Bank decided in 1982, to establish a Branch in Igbuzo (Ibusa) and I was officially there as the representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Meanwhile with appropriate pressure from top notch people in Ogwashi-Uku, the defunct Asaba Branch located in Ogwashi-Uku was re-established as a branch in Ogwashi-Uku.

Unfortunately with the establishment of First Bank also in Ogwashi-Uku which was blessed with an aggressive Manager, the Union Bank branches in Ogwashi-Uku and Igbuzo (Ibusa) became unviable. While Ogwashi-Uku people pushed to retain their own branch over there, Igbuzo people did nothing to help our son, Henry Onyemem to push our collective case successfully which would have seen to the sustainability of our branch in Ibusa.

To make things worse NEPA took flight from Igbuzo for some years, paralyzing every activity in the community and thus compelling the bank to operate without profits. Yes, with a sizable number of accounts of Igbuzo origin in that Ogwashi-Uku Branch, a good case can be made for the return of the bank to Igbuzo.

Once more, we are suffering from leadership lacuna and crisis of identity in Ibusa.

Stay blessed!

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