Zenith Bank Plc has announced that Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, will become the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive starting on June 1, 2024, pending approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
She will succeed Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, who has had a successful five-year term that ends on May 31, 2024.
Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji will be the first female GMD/CEO in the history of the bank. Her appointment aligns with the bank’s tradition of promoting leaders from within and its succession plan.
Before this role, Dr. Umeoji served as the Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank since October 28, 2016, bringing nearly 30 years of banking experience, with 26 years specifically at Zenith Bank.
She has a strong educational background, including attending the Harvard Business School for the Advanced Management Programmeme (AMP) and the Columbia Business School for the Global Banking Programmeme.
She holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and a First-Class Honours in Law from Baze University, Abuja.
Additionally, she has a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar, and a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.
Dr. Umeoji also has a Certificate in Economics for Business from MIT Sloan School of Management and has completed various management programmes at universities worldwide, including Wharton Business School and Harvard Business School in the USA.
Dr. Adaora Umeoji is a member of prestigious professional organizations such as the Chartered Banker Institute in the UK, 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, among others.
In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria recognised Dr. Umeoji’s contributions to nation-building by honouring her with the Officer of the Order of the Niger award. She is also a Peace Advocate for the United Nations (UN-POLAC).
Dr. Umeoji has made a significant impact through her philanthropic work with NGOs such as the Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation and the Adorable Foundation, which focus on educating and supporting cancer patients and underprivileged children, especially girls.
Her dedication to humanitarian causes was acknowledged by the Sun Newspaper, which awarded her the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2023.
Driven by her commitment to promoting professionalism in the banking sector and improving the lives of the less fortunate, Dr. Umeoji founded the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN) to advocate for ethical banking practices and service to humanity.
She is also a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI) and was honoured as a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by His Holiness Pope Francis.
