By Business A.M.
Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the group managing director/chief executive officer of Zenith Bank Plc, has been conferred with a doctorate degree in Business Administration by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The conferment,which took place during the 50th convocation ceremony of the university at the weekend, was in recognition of Onyeagwu’s immense achievements as CEO of Zenith Bank as well as his contributions to the growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria and across the African continent.
Speaking during the conferment ceremony,Charles Igwe, the vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria, congratulated Onyeagwu for distinguishing himself in his career and for his service to humanity, which made him worthy to receive the prestigious Doctorate Degree from Nigeria’s first indigenous University.
Onyeagwu, in his acceptance speech, expressed his gratitude to the University of Nigeria for finding him a worthy recipient of the Doctorate Degree in Business Administration of one of the leading universities in Nigeria, considering the very rigorous process of selection of awardees by the institution.
“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,” he said.
The Zenith Bank chief executive noted that the award represented a validation of the outstanding corporate governance, ethical leadership, and overall outstanding performance that the multinational financial service provider has recorded.
Onyeagwu dedicated the award to the board and management of Zenith, especially Jim Ovia, the founder and chairman of the bank, who he described as a mentor, leader and a source of inspiration to everyone at the bank and beyond.
He also acknowledged and commended 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;the bank’s customers for their unflinching loyalty to the brand; and to his family for their unceasing love and support.
Ikenna Onwuegbuna, the orator of the University of Nigeria, while presenting the citation of Onyeagwu to the assemblage at the 50th Convocation Ceremony,noted that the Zenith Bank CEO,is an alumnus of Auchi Polytechnic, the University of Oxford, England and Salford Business School, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom, Delta State University, Abraka.
Onwuegbuna further disclosed that the Zenith Bank CEO is also 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.
Onyeagwu is a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Institute of Credit Administrators (ICA) and Senior Associate Member, Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (RIMAN).
The vastly experienced banker and financial expert is the chairman of the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers, Nigeria and chairman of 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 also 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 has 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).
Onyeagwu’s track record of excellence has also seen him win several individual awards, including being named Bank CEO of the Year in 2019 by Champion Newspaper, Bank CEO of the Year in 2020, 2021 & 2022 by BusinessDay Newspaper, CEO of the Year in the 2020 and 2021 SERAS Awards, and CEO of the Year in 2022 by Leadership Newspaper.
