Jim Ovia Reaffirms Zenith Bank’s Commitment to Shareholder Value at NGX Closing Gong Ceremony

Jim Ovia has reaffirmed Zenith Bank’s commitment to shareholder value at NGX closing gong ceremony.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Zenith Bank Plc’s Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, alongside the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, performed the Closing Gong Ceremony at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, marking another milestone in the bank’s enduring partnership with the capital market.

The event symbolized Zenith Bank’s ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and investor confidence, reinforcing its position as one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions.

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Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Umeoji expressed delight in the collaboration with the NGX, praising its innovative leadership and advanced trading platform.

“We are delighted to perform the closing gong ceremony – a symbol of shared progress and partnership,” Dr. Umeoji said. “The NGX’s electronic trading platform, X-stream, played a pivotal role in the success of our recapitalization exercise, which recorded a 160% subscription rate. Since then, Zenith Bank’s stock price has risen from ₦36.50 to ₦68 per share, and the bank has delivered the highest dividend payout in the Nigerian banking industry for the first half of 2025.”

She reaffirmed Zenith Bank’s dedication to creating sustainable value for shareholders, noting that the bank plans to pay enhanced dividends by year-end in line with market expectations.

“We are working tirelessly to remain investors’ delight. The confidence reposed in us by the market will not be misplaced,” she added.

The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, also commended the NGX and participating institutions for their role in boosting market capitalization.

“At my assumption of office, the market capitalization stood at ₦55 trillion. Today, it stands between ₦89 trillion and ₦93 trillion, thanks to your vision, transparency, and leadership. Our target is ₦200 trillion by next year,” he stated.

The Doyen of the NGX, Alhaji Rasheed Yusuf, praised Dr. Ovia’s exceptional leadership and vision, describing him as “the Doyen of the Commercial Banking Sector.”

Zenith Bank continues to pursue strategic global expansion while strengthening its domestic market position. The capital raised from the recapitalization exercise will be leveraged to improve scalability, enhance service delivery, and drive economic growth.

The bank’s consistency in performance and corporate governance has earned it numerous prestigious awards, including:

• Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital (16 consecutive years – The Banker, 2025)

• Nigeria’s Best Bank (Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025)

• Bank of the Year (Nigeria) (The Banker Awards 2020, 2022, 2024)

• Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria (World Finance Banking Awards 2021–2025)

• Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria (International Banker Awards 2023 & 2024)

• Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria (World Finance Awards 2022–2025)

• Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria (The Banker, 2020 & 2021)

• Most Responsible Organisation in Africa (SERAS CSR Awards 2024)

• Rights Issue/Public Offer of the Year (Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025)

Through visionary leadership, innovation, and shareholder-focused strategies, Zenith Bank continues to set the benchmark for excellence, profitability, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s banking sector.