Zenith Bank Plc’s Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, alongside the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, performed the prestigious closing gong ceremony at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
The event marked a significant milestone in the bank’s longstanding partnership with the capital market and officially closed the day’s trading activities. It further reaffirmed Zenith Bank’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and investor confidence.
While speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Umeoji expressed delight at participating in the symbolic tradition, applauding the NGX’s visionary leadership and innovation.
“We are delighted to be here today to perform the closing gong ceremony – a symbol of shared progress and enduring partnership,” she said.
She praised the NGX’s electronic trading platform, X-stream, for its vital role in the success of Zenith Bank’s recapitalization exercise, which achieved an impressive 160% subscription rate.
Following this achievement, the bank’s stock price doubled – from ₦36.50 per share to ₦68. Zenith Bank also delivered record-breaking financial results for the first half (H1) of 2025, emerging as Nigeria’s most profitable bank and paying the highest dividend in the industry.
Dr. Umeoji reaffirmed Zenith Bank’s dedication to creating long-term value for stakeholders, saying:
“We are working assiduously to ensure we do not disappoint the market. Zenith Bank will continue to be investors’ delight, paying enhanced dividends by year-end.”
Also speaking, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, commended the NGX and market participants for their resilience and innovation.
“At my assumption of office, market capitalization stood at ₦55 trillion; today, it is between ₦89 trillion and ₦93 trillion. This growth is the result of your tenacity and vision. Our target is ₦200 trillion by next year,” he said.
The Doyen of the NGX, Alhaji Rasheed Yusuf, lauded Dr. Jim Ovia for his visionary leadership, describing him as the “Doyen of the Commercial Banking Sector.”
As Zenith Bank continues its growth trajectory, it plans to expand globally, leveraging capital raised from the market to enhance scalability and deliver superior value to customers and shareholders.
Over the years, Zenith Bank’s consistent excellence has earned it numerous international and local awards, including:
Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for 16 consecutive years (The Banker, 2025).
Nigeria’s Best Bank (Euromoney Awards for Excellence, 2025).
Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria (World Finance Banking Awards, 2021-2025).
Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria (International Banker Awards, 2023 & 2024).
Best in Corporate Governance, Financial Services, Africa (Ethical Boardroom, 2020-2023).
Most Responsible Organisation in Africa (SERAS CSR Awards Africa, 2024).
Bank of the Year (ThisDay and New Telegraph Newspapers, 2024).
These accolades reflect Zenith Bank’s unwavering dedication to innovation, sustainability, and stakeholder value creation.
