Business
Zenith Bank CEO Ebenezer Onyeagwu obtained a doctorate from UNN.
Zenith Bank CEO Ebenezer Onyeagwu obtained a doctorate from UNN.
From left: Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Charles Arinzechukwu Igwe; Minister of State for Education, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nanah Opiah; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Amb. Bako Sani; Group Managing Director and CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu; and Mrs. Kachi Onyeagwu during the conferment of the Doctorate Degree in Business Administration on Dr. Onyeagwu by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, group managing director and chief executive officer of Zenith Bank Plc, was conferred with a doctorate degree in business administration by one of Nigeria’s most prestigious universities, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on March 25, 2023.
The award, which is 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 the University of Nigeria, 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 doctorate degree from Nigeria’s first indigenous university.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu expressed his gratitude to the University of Nigeria for finding him a worthy recipient of the doctorate degree in business administration from one of the leading universities in Nigeria, 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 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 Zenith Bank is recording, Dr. 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 everyone at the bank and beyond; 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 rest; the bank’s customers for their unflinching loyalty to the brand; and to his family for their unceasing love and support.
Presenting the citation of Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu to the assemblage at the 50th Convocation Ceremony for the conferment of the Doctorate Degree in Business Administration, the orator of the University of Nigeria, 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 the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, the Columbia Business School of Columbia University, and the Harvard Business School of Harvard University in the United States.
Dr. Ebenezer 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 a Senior Associate Member of the Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (RIMAN).
Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu 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 the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). Ebenezer Onyeagwu is a member of the International Monetary Conference (IMC), the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, the African Trade Gateway Advisory Council of the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). He also served on the boards of Zenith Bank Ghana Limited, Zenith General Insurance, Zenith Securities Limited, Zenith Asset 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, and 2022) by BusinessDay Newspaper, CEO of the Year (2020 and 2021) by SERAS Awards, and CEO of the Year (2022) by Leadership Newspaper.
Other recipients of doctorate degrees at the 50th convocation ceremony included the former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was conferred with the doctorate of public administration, and the Chairman of Hobark International Limited, Dr. Obiora Fubara, who received the doctorate of business administration. A retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Law; however, her conferment was deferred to a later date because she was unavoidably absent at the ceremony.
