Zenith Bank Strengthens Market Confidence As Jim Ovia, Adaora Umeoji Ring NGX Closing Gong
By Rashidat Olushola Okunlade, Lagos
Zenith Bank Plc’s Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, alongside the bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, performed the prestigious Closing Gong Ceremony at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
The event marked the official close of the trading day and underscored the bank’s strong partnership with the capital market, as well as its unwavering commitment to transparency, investor confidence, and shareholder value creation.
Zenith Bank Celebrates Market Milestone
Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. Adaora Umeoji expressed delight at leading the bank’s delegation to the NGX, describing the event as “a symbol of shared progress and enduring partnership.”
“We are delighted to be here today to perform the closing gong ceremony – a symbol of shared progress and enduring partnership,” she said. “The NGX’s leadership has been innovative and creative, and their X-stream electronic trading platform played a pivotal role in the success of our recapitalization exercise, which achieved a 160% subscription.”
According to her, Zenith Bank’s share price has more than doubled since the recapitalization, rising from ₦36.50 per share to ₦68, while the bank reported impressive financial results for the first half (H1) of 2025, becoming Nigeria’s most profitable bank and the highest dividend-paying bank in the industry.
Commitment to Investors and Expansion Plans
Dr. Umeoji reiterated the bank’s dedication to delivering exceptional value to shareholders and driving growth through customer-focused expansion.
“We are committed to creating value for our stakeholders and will continue to partner with the NGX to boost the Nigerian economy. Our expansion strategy focuses on following our customers’ businesses and entering markets where we can scale and deliver greater returns to our shareholders,” she noted.
She further assured investors that the bank would continue its tradition of paying “enhanced dividends” at year-end, reflecting the market’s confidence in Zenith Bank’s performance.
“We are working assiduously to ensure that we remain the investors’ delight,” she emphasized. “We will continue to reward our shareholders and strengthen market confidence.”
SEC, NGX Leaders Commend Zenith Bank
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, commended the NGX and market participants for their resilience and contribution to Nigeria’s capital market growth.
“At the start of my tenure, market capitalization was around ₦55 trillion; today it’s between ₦89 trillion and ₦93 trillion. This progress wasn’t achieved by chance—it’s the result of your tenacity, vision, and transparency. Our goal is to see the market reach ₦200 trillion next year,” Dr. Agama stated.
Also speaking, the Doyen of the Nigerian Exchange, Alhaji Rasheed Yusuf, lauded Dr. Jim Ovia for his vision and leadership in the Nigerian banking industry, describing him as the “Doyen of the Commercial Banking Sector.”
A Legacy of Excellence and Recognition
Zenith Bank’s outstanding performance continues to earn it both local and international recognition. The bank was recently named Nigeria’s Number One Bank by Tier-1 Capital for the 16th consecutive year in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks 2025.
Other recent accolades include:
- Nigeria’s Best Bank 2025 – Euromoney Awards for Excellence
- Bank of the Year (Nigeria) – The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards (2020, 2022, 2024)
- Best Commercial Bank (Nigeria) – World Finance Banking Awards (2021–2025)
- Most Sustainable Bank (Nigeria) – International Banker Banking Awards (2023, 2024)
- Best in Corporate Governance (Financial Services, Africa) – Ethical Boardroom Awards (2020–2023)
- Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria – The Banker’s Top 500 Banking Brands (2020, 2021)
- Bank of the Year (2023–2025) – BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards
- Most Responsible Organisation in Africa (2024) – SERAS CSR Awards Africa
Driving Future Growth
As Zenith Bank continues its growth trajectory, it remains focused on sustainable expansion, enhanced shareholder value, and supporting Nigeria’s economic development. The bank plans to leverage the capital raised from the market to scale its operations and deliver improved services to its growing customer base.
About Zenith Bank Plc
Founded by Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, Zenith Bank is one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, renowned for innovation, strong corporate governance, and consistent shareholder returns. Listed on the NGX and the London Stock Exchange, the bank continues to set benchmarks for excellence in the Nigerian and African banking landscape.
