Goddy Egene Shareholders of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc are expecting the announcement of a final dividend for the 2018 financial year. This followed the approval of the bank's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), UBA said its Board of Directors last Monday approved its financial statements and payment of dividend to shareholders, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). "We shall provide the details of the results and dividend payments as well as related corporate actions to the Exchange upon the approval of the accounts by the CBN," the bank said in the notification signed by Group Company Secretary, Mr. Bili Odum. Market operators and shareholders are highly optimistic that UBA will declare final dividend higher than what was paid for the 2017 financial year. The bank paid a total dividend of 85 kobo in 2017, comprising 20 kobo interim and 65 kobo final.