The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer
Onyeagwu, was on Saturday, March 25, 2023, conferred with a Doctorate Degree in
Business Administration by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 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 of 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 rests; 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,
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 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).
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 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.
