UNN confers doctorate on Zenith Bank CEO, Onyeagwu

Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, was at the weekend, conferred with a doctorate in Business Administration by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

The award, which is in recognition of his achievements as CEO and contributions to growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria and Africa, was conferred on him during the 50th convocation of the institution.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Igwe, congratulated Onyeagwu for distinguishing himself in his career and for his service to humanity, which made him worthy to receive the prestigious doctoral degree from the nation’s first indigenous university.

In his acceptance speech, Onyeagwu expressed his gratitude to the tertiary institution for finding him worthy of the honour.

“For me to have been considered and to have passed through the meticulous selection process make it the more dignifying because I have no connection with the university.”

Noting that the award represents a validation of the outstanding corporate governance, ethical leadership and overall outstanding performance that the financial institution is recording, the recipient dedicated the prize to the board and management, especially the founder/Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, who, according to him, has remained a “mentor, leader and a source of inspiration to everyone at the bank and beyond” and the staff for being the shoulder and proverbial base of the pyramid upon which his achievements and success as CEO of the leading financial institution in Nigeria rests; customers for their unflinching loyalty to the brand and to his family for their unceasing love and support.

Presenting Onyeagwu’s citation to the assemblage at the event, the university’s orator, Dr. Ikenna Onwuegbuna, said the recipient is an alumnus of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, University of Oxford, England and Salford Business School, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom and Delta State University, Abraka.

Also, the CEO is an alumnus of Wharton Business School of University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School of Columbia University and Harvard Business School of Harvard University in the United States.

Onyeagwu is a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Institute of Credit Administrators (ICA) and Senior Associate Member, Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (RIMAN).

He is Chairman of the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers, Nigeria and Chairman of Zenith Pensions Custodian Limited and Zenith Nominees Limited.

Onyeagwu is also on the Board of Zenith Bank (UK) Limited, FMDQ Holdings Plc and Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). He is a member of International Monetary Conference (IMC), Wall Street Journal CEO Council, member of African Trade Gateway Advisory Council, Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and member of Governing Council, CIBN.

He also served on board of Zenith Bank Ghana Limited, Zenith General Insurance, Zenith Securities Limited, Zenith Assets Management Company, Zenith Medicare Limited and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

His track record of excellence has also seen him win several individual awards, including being named Bank CEO of the Year (2019) by Champion Newspaper, Bank CEO of the Year (2020, 2021 & 2022) by BusinessDay Newspaper, CEO of the Year (2020 and 2021) – SERAS Awards and CEO of the Year (2022) – Leadership Newspaper.