Ten Things You Should Know About Dame Adaora Umeoji, the First Female CEO of Zenith Bank

It is no longer news that Zenith Bank Plc, pending Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) permission, has selected Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji to be its next Group Managing Director and Chief Executive, effective June 1, 2024.
Adaora Umeoji’s appointment is noteworthy since it will make her the first female GMD/CEO of a tier one bank.

The brief biography of Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, and her ascent to the position of Zenith Bank’s first female CEO, are provided here.
1. Adaora Umeoji is the first woman to fill the GMD/CEO post at Zenith Bank, making her appointment a historic milestone.

2. Umeoji is renowned for encouraging moral banking and volunteerism. He founded the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN).
3. She was named an Officer of the Order of Nigeria (OON) national honor by the Nigerian government in 2022 for her nation-building efforts, and she was acknowledged as a peace champion by the United Nations (UN-POLAC).
4. Umeoji has more than 30 years of experience in banking, including 26 years with Zenith Bank, where she was the Deputy Managing Director from October 28, 2016.

5. She graduated with first-class honors in law from Baze University, Abuja, a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Jos.

6. She has also earned an MBA from the University of Calabar and a Master of Laws from the University of Salford in the United Kingdom.

7. Umeoji has studied for a Doctorate in Business Administration at Apollos University in the United States and a Certificate in Business Economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management in the United States.

8. She attended Columbia Business School’s Global Banking Program and finished executive programs in Strategic Management at Harvard Business School.

9. In addition, Umeoji completed management courses at several famous universities across the globe, such as the United States’ Wharton Business School. She also holds a credential from Harvard Business School in Leading Global Business.

10. On May 31, 2024, Ebenezer Onyeagwu’s five-year term comes to an end. She takes over.