At Zenith Bank’s 35th anniversary gala, Vice-President Kashim Shettima praised founder Jim Ovia’s visionary leadership and CEO Dame Adaora Umeoji’s barrier-breaking rise, celebrating the bank as Nigeria’s benchmark of corporate excellence
“A Culture Where Innovation Is Instinct, Integrity Non-Negotiable” – Shettima Hails Zenith Bank at 35
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has lauded Zenith Bank as a true benchmark of corporate excellence in Nigeria, crediting its 35 years of remarkable growth to the visionary foresight of founder Jim Ovia and the transformative leadership of its first female Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Adaora Umeoji.
Speaking at the bank’s 35th anniversary gala in Lagos on August 15, 2025, Shettima described Ovia as “the master of foresight, the architect of dreams, the conjurer of possibilities, the alchemist who turns vision into gold.” He recalled how Ovia embedded innovation into Zenith’s DNA long before technology became the driving force of global banking.
“Where others see risks, he invents solutions; where they feel lost, he provides a compass,” the Vice-President said, attributing Zenith’s dominance—including 16 consecutive years as Nigeria’s largest bank by Tier-One capital—to Ovia’s unwavering discipline and ingenuity.
Highlighting Zenith’s long list of accolades, Shettima noted the bank’s fifth recognition as Best Bank in Nigeria by Global Finance in 2025, its victory at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, and its double win as Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria by International Banker in 2023 and 2024. It was also crowned Bank of the Year (Nigeria) at The Banker’s Awards in 2024, alongside multiple recognitions for corporate governance and commercial banking.
As a proud Zenith alumnus, Shettima underscored that the institution’s greatest strength remains its people, shaped by Ovia’s mentorship culture that has produced leaders within and beyond the bank’s boardroom.
Turning to current CEO Umeoji, Shettima hailed her as “the embodiment of continuity and innovation”—a leader who has “shattered a glass ceiling and replaced it with a skylight through which others can glimpse the possibilities above them.” Since assuming office in mid-2024, Umeoji has steered Zenith to record-breaking performance while championing empathy and inclusion as central to her leadership. Read More
He further credited Ovia’s guiding philosophy—that “no decision should be made in any place where women are absent”—as the foundation of Zenith’s inclusive culture and Umeoji’s historic rise.
Concluding with a stirring tribute, Shettima declared: “As we celebrate Zenith at 35, we are honouring a culture where innovation is instinct, integrity is non-negotiable, and service to humanity stands as tall as service to shareholders. May the next 35 years see you continue breaking barriers and setting standards—proving that in Nigeria, greatness is not an exception; it is an expectation.” Read More
