Adaora Umeoji Wins Leadership Banker Of The Year 2024 Award 

Dr.  Adaora Umeoji, the Group Managing Director (GMD)\Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zenith Bank Plc, has been named Leadership Banker of the Year 2024for her exemplary leadership, resilience, and dedication to humanizing banking.

Dr. Umeoji’s appointment in June 2024 as the first female GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank marked a groundbreaking moment for Nigeria’s banking sector. Her tenure reflects not only her visionary leadership but also Zenith Bank’s commitment to innovation and excellence. With over 30 years of banking experience, including 26 years at Zenith Bank, she has become a beacon of transformation in the financial industry.

Since taking the helm, she has prioritised strengthening digital banking, expanding financial inclusion, and enhancing customer experiences, cementing Zenith Bank’s position at the forefront of the Nigerian banking industry. Dr. Umeoji’s strategic initiatives have delivered remarkable results, including record-breaking profitability. By the end of the third quarter of 2024, the bank announced a pre-tax profit of ₦1 trillion for the nine-month period ending September 30, a 98.57 percent increase from ₦505 billion recorded during the same period in 2023. Gross profit also surged by 118.16 percent to ₦2.8 trillion, while net interest income rose by an astounding 208.43 percent.

A seasoned professional, Dr. Umeoji combines a distinguished academic background with extensive practical experience. She holds a doctorate in Business Administration and has completed advanced management programs at Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School, and MIT Sloan School of Management. She is a fellow of the Chartered Banker Institute (UK) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, showcasing her commitment to professional excellence. Recognised as an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester, she exemplifies service and achievement.

Dr. Umeoji’s career has been characterised by a relentless focus on financial inclusion and ethical banking. As Deputy Managing Director since 2016, she drove Zenith Bank’s strategic goals, championing financial access for underserved communities and raising operational standards. Her efforts have been pivotal in setting ambitious targets, including the milestone of ₦1 trillion in profitability for the 2024 financial year.

Beyond banking, Dr. Umeoji is a philanthropist and advocate for values-driven practices. As the founder of the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), she bridges finance with social good, emphasising the role of ethical banking in driving societal progress.