To millions of admirers and associates, banking titan Mr. Jim Ovia comes across as a phenomenon of sorts. His legacy in Nigeria is remarkable, and his achievements extend above and beyond his successful tenure as pioneer Group Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc —a bank he founded in 1990 and ran for 20 years— which was quite a long time to be in one institution. His unquantifiable business and banking successes, and how he was able to create one of Africa’s largest banks, stand out as a study in leadership, change management and strategy.
Ovia’s capacity for leadership and eye for growth opportunities is evident in Zenith’s performance and progression on a number of parameters. His several actions underpin the many positive changes to Nigeria’s economic environment, particularly in the banking industry, where he applied his acumen and entrepreneurial resilience to positively impact the entire system. The 73-year old accomplished banker and erudite manager of human and material resources has since gone on to explore new opportunities, embrace new challenges and sought to inspire progressive change in various other sectors he has shown interest in: ICT, telecommunications, real estate and education. Indisputably, Ovia’s flair for management and dedication to philanthropy are still very much alive. For a man who grew from nothing to a N6 trillion enterprise, endorsement and recognition —home and abroad— have been coming his way including the national honours of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) and Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).
Early this week, Ovia had a new feather added to his cap as he was recognised in London, United Kingdom for his efforts in strengthening Africa’s economic ties with the rest of the world. The City of London honoured the Zenith Bank Plc Chairman with the admission into the Freedom of the City of London —an ancient tradition granted to individuals in recognition of their service to the city or their notable achievements. The well-deserved recognition was an acknowledgement of Ovia’s pioneering role and underscores his outstanding contributions to business, finance and technology.