Zenith Bank Plc has appointed Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive from June 1, 2024, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
She replaces Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose five-year term expires on May 31, 2024, after what the bank described in a statement on Tuesday as a very successful tenure.
Mrs. Umeoji is the first female GMD/CEO since the inception of Zenith Bank, the statement noted, assuring that her appointment is consistent with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan, and strategy of grooming leaders from within.
Prior to this appointment, Umeoji, an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School where she attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP) and Columbia Business School with a certificate in the Global Banking Programme, had garnerred almost 30 years cognate banking experience of which 26 years has been with Zenith Bank.
Holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, and another Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a First-Class honors in Law from Baze University, Abuja, she holds a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar. She is coming on board with a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA, among others.
She is a fellow of the Chartered Bankers Institute, UK; Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Institute of Credit Administration, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria among others.
In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored Dr. Umeoji with Officer of the Order of the Niger, as a recognition of her contributions to nation building. She is a Peace Advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC).
She has impacted many lives by her philanthropic and humanitarian activities through her NGOs; Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation and the Adorable Foundation that educates, caters for Cancer patients and indigent children education especially the Girl-Child. Her contribution to humanity was recognized by the Sun Newspaper which recently bestowed on her the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2023.
As a result of her passion for promoting professionalism in the banking industry and improving the well-being of the less privileged, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, founded the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote ethical banking and service to humanity.
She is a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and was awarded a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by His Holiness Pope Francis.
