UNN Honours Zenith Bank CEO, Ebenezer Onyeagwu with Doctorate Degree

UNN Honours Zenith Bank CEO, Ebenezer Onyeagwu with Doctorate Degree

By our reporter 

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

The award, which was in recognition of his immense achievements as Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank as well as his contributions to the growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria and across the African continent, was conferred on him during the 50th convocation ceremony of the University.

Speaking during the conferment ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Charles Igwe, congratulated Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu for distinguishing himself in his career and for his service to humanity, which made him worthy to receive the prestigious honour.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu expressed deep gratitude to the University of Nigeria UNN for finding him a worthy recipient of the Doctorate Degree, considering the very rigorous process of selection of awardees by the institution.

In his words, “for me to have been considered and to have passed through the meticulous selection process makes it more dignifying because I have no connection with the University.”

Noting that the award represents a validation of outstanding corporate governance, ethical leadership, and overall performance of Zenith Bank, Onyeagwu dedicated the award to the board and management of Zenith, especially the Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, who has remained a mentor, a leader and a source of inspiration to many at the Bank and beyond.

He also added that Dr Jim Ovia has 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, and thanked the Bank’s customers for their unflinching loyalty as well as his family for their unceasing love and support.

Presenting the citation of Onyeagwu to the assemblage at the 50th Convocation Ceremony, the orator of the University, Dr. Ikenna Onwuegbuna noted that Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is an alumnus of Auchi Polytechnic, the University of Oxford, England and Salford Business School, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom, and Delta State University, Abraka.

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

Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is also a Fellow of many professional organisations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), and the Institute of Credit Administrators (ICA). He is equally a Senior Associate Member of Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (RIMAN).

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

He is also on the Board of Zenith Bank (UK) Limited, FMDQ Holdings Plc and Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

Ebenezer Onyeagwu is a member of the International Monetary Conference (IMC), the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, member of the African Trade Gateway Advisory Council of the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and member of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

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

Dr. Onyeagwu’s 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.

Other recipients of Doctorate Degrees at the 50th convocation ceremony include former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was conferred with the Doctor of Public Administration, and the Chairman of Hobark International Limited, Dr. Obiora Fubara, who received the Doctor of Business Administrat ion. A retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, was conferred with the Doctor of Law; however, her conferment was deferred to a later date because she was unavoidably absent at the ceremony.