Zenith Bank Plc once again demonstrated its leadership in Nigeria’s financial sector as the Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, alongside the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, performed the prestigious Closing Gong Ceremony at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
The event, which officially signified the close of trading for the day, marked another significant milestone in the enduring partnership between Zenith Bank and the NGX, symbolizing the institution’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainable investor confidence.
In her remarks, Dr. Adaora Umeoji expressed delight at leading the bank’s delegation to the Exchange, describing the occasion as a “symbol of shared progress and enduring partnership.” She lauded the NGX for its visionary leadership and the innovative X-stream electronic trading platform, which, she noted, played a pivotal role in the success of Zenith Bank’s recapitalization exercise.
“Our recapitalization achieved a 160 percent subscription, and our stock price has doubled from N36.50 to N68 per share,” Dr. Umeoji revealed. “We are now the most profitable bank in Nigeria and have paid the highest dividend in the industry for the first half of 2025.”
Dr. Umeoji further emphasized the bank’s dedication to creating long-term value for its stakeholders, reaffirming that Zenith Bank would continue to reward shareholders with enhanced dividends** by year-end.
“We are committed to ensuring that Zenith Bank remains the investors’ delight. The confidence reposed in us by the market will not be taken for granted,” she assured.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, commended the NGX and its stakeholders for their contributions to Nigeria’s capital market growth.
“When I assumed office, market capitalization stood at N55 trillion. Today, it’s between N89 trillion and N93 trillion, a result of your courage, transparency, and vision,” Dr. Agama said. “By next year, our goal is to push the market to N200 trillion.”
The Doyen of the NGX, Alhaji Rasheed Yusuf, also praised Dr. Jim Ovia for his enduring leadership and vision, describing him as the “Doyen of the commercial banking sector” whose innovations have transformed the face of banking in Nigeria.
Zenith Bank continues to chart a path of excellence, leveraging its recapitalization to drive expansion across new markets and enhance service delivery for customers. The bank’s strong fundamentals and robust corporate governance culture have earned it numerous international and local recognitions, including:
Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the 16th consecutive year in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks Ranking (2025).
Nigeria’s Best Bank 2025 at the *Euromoney Awards for Excellence.
Best Corporate Governance Bank in Nigeria for four consecutive years (2022–2025) by World Finance Corporate Governance Awards.
Most Responsible Organization in Africa and **Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the *SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024.
The bank also clinched Bank of the Year 2024 from ThisDay and New Telegraph Newspapers and was recognized for Best in MSME Trade Finance 2023 by Nairametrics.
With a consistent record of profitability, innovation, and expansion, Zenith Bank’s leadership reaffirmed its commitment to driving Nigeria’s economic growth, maintaining shareholder value, and setting the benchmark for excellence in corporate governance and financial performance.
By Lekan Olofinsusi
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