Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima lauded Zenith Bank for its four-decade legacy of innovation and nation-building during its 35th-anniversary celebration in Lagos, describing the institution as a benchmark for excellence in African finance. Speaking at the Chairman’s Dinner on Friday, Shettima—a former employee of the bank—praised its trajectory from a modest Nigerian enterprise to a global financial force, emphasizing its unique role in shaping the country’s economic aspirations.
“Greatness is not an exception here—it is an expectation,” Shettima declared, crediting the bank’s success to a culture fostered by visionary leadership. He highlighted Zenith’s expansion across continents and its consistent ranking as Nigeria’s largest bank by Tier-One capital for 16 consecutive years, a record underscoring its dominance in African banking.
Central to this narrative, he noted, is Jim Ovia, the bank’s founder and chairman, whose early embrace of technology transformed Nigeria’s financial sector. “Long before fintech became a global trend, Ovia embedded innovation into Zenith’s DNA,” Shettima said, recalling his own tenure under Ovia’s leadership. The vice president likened Ovia to a “sage” who treated excellence as a non-negotiable standard, steering the institution through decades of regulatory and economic shifts.
A recurring theme was Zenith’s emphasis on continuity, exemplified by its recent leadership transition. Dame Adaora Umeoji, the bank’s first female Group Managing Director, received praise for her three-decade ascent within the organization and her record-breaking performance since assuming the role in 2023. “Leadership isn’t about erasing the past but building upon it,” Shettima remarked, citing her blend of strategic foresight and empathy as emblematic of the bank’s values.
Ovia, addressing attendees earlier, reflected on Zenith’s origins in a repurposed government building in 1990 and its evolution into a global brand, asserting its “best years lie ahead.” He commended staff loyalty as pivotal to its growth. Umeoji echoed this sentiment, framing the anniversary as a celebration of Ovia’s “visionary daring,” which propelled Zenith from local roots to international recognition.
The event doubled as a tribute to institutional resilience, with Shettima framing Zenith’s ethos as a “family” united by shared purpose rather than mere transactions. As the bank enters its fourth decade, its leaders spotlighted ambitions to further redefine African banking—a vision anchored, per Shettima, in proving that “Nigeria’s potential is limitless when nurtured by audacity and unity.”
