Agbor, Delta State
OVIA,
Jim
- Married
Isioma Ovia
– Part-time Computer operator, Baton Rouge Bank and Trust Company;
– Clerical Officer, Union Bank (formerly Barclays Bank), 1973;
– Manager, Lion Bank;
– Financial Analyst (then Senior Manager), International Merchant Bank, 1987;
– Senior Manager, Corporate Finance Department of Merchant Bank of Africa, 1987-1990;
– CEO, Zenith Bank, 1990 – 2010;
– Member, Governing Council of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, 1999 – 2007;
– Member, board of American International School, Lagos, 2001 -2003;
– Member, National Economic Management Team of Nigeria.
• Ovia is the founder of Visafone Communications Limited and the chairman of both the Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI) and the National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC). He is a member of the Honorary International Investor Council as well as the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). He is the Chairman of Cyberspace Network Limited. He was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in the 50th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos
• Jim Ovia is a member of a number of global organizations including the World Economic Forum (since 2007), the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA)—a key voice for U.S.-Africa business relations—among others.
• In 2007, Jim Ovia was honored as the Banker of the Year by ThisDay Newspaper. In 2002, he received The Business Day Newspaper award for the top 10 bankers in Nigeria and also Vanguard Newspaper’s award for 20 most outstanding CEO’s in corporate Nigeria. In recognition of his leadership role in Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia was awarded the Zik Award for professional leadership in April 1999.
• Jim Ovia was conferred with the AAI 2017 Business Leadership Award by The Africa-America Institute, New York. He was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in December 2017. He was earlier awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Finance by the Lagos State University in October 2005.
AWARDS AND HONOURS:
– Zik Award for Professional Leadership;
– National Award of Member Federal Republic (MFR), 2000;
– National Award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), November, 2011;
PUBLICATIONS:
“Africa Rise And Shine” (2018)
HONOURARY DEGREE:
– Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Finance from the Lagos State University
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
Under the leadership of Jim Ovia, Zenith bank received prestigious awards, some of which includes:
– The Most Respected Bank in Nigeria by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2005;
– Bank of the Year by The Banker Magazine in 2005;
– Named the most security friendly and conscious bank in Nigeria for 2005;
– Ranked the Fourth biggest bank in Nigeria by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2005;
– African Bank of the Year in 2007 by African Investor Magazine;
– Named Quoted Company of the Year by the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2007;
– Socially Responsible Bank of the Year awarded by African Banker Magazine;
– Won the Web-Jurist award conducted by the website rating arm of Phillips Consulting.
An avid fan of iconic architecture, Jim Ovia developed the Civic Centre and Aquamarine Boat Club to exploit Nigeria’s burgeoning hospitality sector. Adjacent to this, he built the Civic Towers, a 15 story office block that colloquially is referred to as Nigeria’s “Empire State Building”.
“Please send your updated CV to: [email protected]” – Editor
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