Adaora Umeoji breaks glass ceiling with appointment as Zenith Bank’s first female CEO

Business a.m

Zenith Bank Plc, a leading Nigerian financial institution, has named Adaora Umeoji as its new group managing director and chief executive officer, effective June 1, 2024, subject to regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The appointment represents a historic milestone for the bank, as Umeoji will become the first female GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank. 

 Umeoji’s appointment comes at the end of a very successful tenure for the outgoing GMD/CEO, Ebenezer Onyeagwu. Onyeagwu has led Zenith Bank through a period of significant growth and transformation, positioning the bank as one of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria.

The tier one bank stated that her appointment is in line with its long-standing tradition of developing and promoting executive leaders from within its ranks. Umeoji has a proven track record of success at Zenith Bank, having served in various leadership positions within the organisation. She has over two decades of experience in the banking industry, and more than half of that time has been spent at Zenith Bank. 

Umeoji is an accomplished professional with an impressive educational background. She is a graduate of the Advanced Management Programne (AMP) at Harvard Business School, as well as the Global Banking Program at Columbia Business School. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Jos and a First-Class honours degree in Law from Baze University in Abuja.

In addition to her previous degrees, she holds a Master’s of Law from the University of Salford in the United Kingdom, an MBA from the University of Calabar in Nigeria, and a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University in the United States. 

Umeoji’s educational achievements continue to impress, with a certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Sloan School of Management in the United States. In addition, she has attended strategic thinking and management programs at the Wharton Business School in the United States, one of the world’s top business schools. 

The renowned banker is also a fellow of the Chartered Banker Institute, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Institute of Credit Administration, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the country, Umeoji was bestowed the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) award by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2022. Her work as a peace advocate for the United Nations Police Action Committee (UN-POLAC) further highlights her commitment to advancing peace and human rights in the world. 

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