Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, has been recognized as the ‘Best Banking CEO of the Year in Africa’ in the prestigious International Banker 2023 Banking Awards.
The award, revealed in the Spring 2023 Issue of the renowned International Banker Magazine, acknowledges Dr. Onyeagwu’s outstanding leadership in the banking sector and places him among the distinguished individuals and banks from the Middle East and Africa.
Expressing his gratitude for this remarkable recognition, Dr. Onyeagwu praised the publishers of the International Banker for bestowing upon him the ‘Best Banking CEO of the Year in Africa’ award.
He emphasized that this accolade affirms Zenith Bank’s position as a leading financial institution not only in Nigeria but also on the African continent.
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Dr. Onyeagwu further highlighted the bank’s commitment to sustainability and high ethical standards, which have played a vital role in their overall strategy.
The esteemed CEO dedicated this prestigious award to the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, acknowledging his guidance and mentorship.
Dr. Onyeagwu also expressed his gratitude to the bank’s management team and staff for their unwavering support, as well as to the bank’s valued customers for choosing Zenith Bank as their preferred financial institution.
Dr. Onyeagwu’s illustrious career has earned him numerous accolades, including Bank CEO of the Year (2019) by Champion Newspaper, Bank CEO of the Year (2020, 2021 & 2022) by BusinessDay Newspaper, CEO of the Year (2020 and 2021) at the SERAS Awards, and CEO of the Year (2022) according to Leadership Newspaper.
Under Dr. Onyeagwu’s stewardship as Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank has achieved remarkable milestones in various areas, such as financial performance, financial inclusion, corporate governance, and sustainability.
These exceptional efforts have garnered both local and international recognition, including being ranked as the Number One Bank in Nigeria for the 13th consecutive year in the 2022 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking by The Banker Magazine.
Zenith Bank was also honored with the Bank of the Year (Nigeria) award at The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards in 2020 and 2022. Moreover, the bank received the distinction of Best Bank in Nigeria for three consecutive years (2020-2022) at the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards, and the title of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria 2021 and 2022 at the World Finance Banking Awards.
Additionally, Zenith Bank was recognized as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria at the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022, and received the ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services in Africa award for four consecutive years (2020-2023) by the Ethical Boardroom.
Further cementing their commitment to responsible practices, the bank was named the Most Responsible Organization in Africa 2021 by the SERAS Awards.
Adding to his achievements, on March 25, 2023, Dr. Onyeagwu was honored with a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
This esteemed recognition from Nigeria’s first indigenous university highlighted his immense contributions to the growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria and across the African continent.
The award was presented during the university’s 50th convocation ceremony.
Finance Publishing Limited, the publisher of the International Banker, is a renowned source of authoritative analysis and opinion on banking, finance, and world affairs.
The publication’s influence, integrity, accuracy, and objective opinions have garnered global recognition.
The International Banker Awards aim to identify the most outstanding financial institutions worldwide—those that go beyond simply performing well in their roles and instead push the boundaries of excellence, setting new standards for others to aspire to.
The 2023 Banking Awards focused on various criteria, including the provision of essential capital for economic growth, innovative approaches to enhance security and efficiency, commitment to sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, as well as intelligent investing to maximize profits and shareholder value.
