Jim Ovia is widely regarded as the “Godfather of Banking,” a visionary who founded Zenith
Bank in 1990 during a time of economic instability and a “sorely underdeveloped business
climate.”
His bold vision was to build a bank that was modern, efficient, and technology-driven.
Under his leadership for 20 years, Zenith grew from a startup with $4 million in shareholders’
funds into one of Africa’s largest banks, with over $16 billion in assets.
Ovia’s enduring influence is his pioneering role in ICT. He foresaw the importance of technology
and established companies like Cyberspace Limited and Visafone Communications, the latter of
which garnered a million subscribers in six months.
This focus on technology was a key driver of Zenith Bank’s success and helped pave the way for Nigeria’s digital future.
As an architect of impact, Ovia has been an active philanthropist, establishing the Jim Ovia Foundation, which has provided university scholarships to over 1,500 students and founded James Hope College, a
school that provides scholarships for over 50% of its pupils.
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