GODFATHER OF BANKING, JIM OVIA, ADMITTED TO THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LONDON

 

The Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, has been admitted to the prestigious Freedom of the City of London in a distinguished ceremony which held at the Mansion House, City of London on Monday, April 7, 2025. This prestigious accolade is a testament to Mr. Ovia’s exceptional contributions to the global financial landscape, unwavering commitment to fostering economic development, and dedication to philanthropic endeavours that have positively impacted countless lives.

 

The Freedom of the City of London, a time-honoured tradition dating back to the 13^th century, is one of the oldest surviving ceremonies in the United Kingdom. Historically, it granted freemen certain rights and privileges within the city. Today, it stands as a symbolic recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to London or the wider society.  This honour places Mr. Ovia among a distinguished group of recipients, which includes notable figures from various fields such as Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates, Sir Winston Churchill, Desmond Tutu, Harry Kane, Morgan Freeman and Ian Wright.

 

Commenting on his new status as a Freeman of the City of London, the distinguished honoree, Jim Ovia, CFR said “It is indeed a great honour to be admitted to the prestigious Freedom of the City of London. This is not just a recognition of my personal achievements, but also a testament to the tireless efforts of the entire Zenith team who have worked diligently to establish our institution as a leading force in global finance. I am proud to be part of a legacy that celebrates innovation, excellence and the spirit of entrepreneurship. I dedicate this to the people of Nigeria and Africa who continue to inspire me with their resilience and determination. I look forward to continuing to play a role in shaping the economic landscape of our great continent and beyond.”

 

Joining the nation in congratulating Mr. Ovia, President Bola Tinubu, through a press statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commended Mr. Ovia for being a distinguished ambassador of the nation’s private sector. He described the honour as a fitting recognition of his exceptional contributions to business, innovation, and technology, as well as for his role in shaping Nigeria’s financial landscape and strengthening economic ties between Africa and the rest of the world.  According to him, “This honour is a testament to your unwavering commitment to excellence, your pioneering role in the growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria, and your visionary leadership that continues to inspire generations. As an accomplished entrepreneur and advocate of innovation-driven development, your recognition in the City of London affirms the global relevance of Nigerian excellence and enterprise”.

 

Dignitaries at the ceremony include Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu; Governor of Delta State, Rt.Hon. (Elder) Sherrif Oborevwori; Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON; Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, MFR; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Oba of Oniru, Oba Abdulwasiu Lawal; Group Managing Director, TGI Group of Companies, Rahul Savara; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, CFR, and His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, who joined Zenith Bank Executives in celebrating this significant milestone.

 

This well-deserved recognition rides on the back of many other prestigious awards that Mr. Ovia has received for his outstanding contributions to banking, education and philanthropy including conferment of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) & National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award in 2022 by the Federal Government of Nigeria. He was also named the Banker of the Year in 2007 and Titan of the year in 2024 by ThisDay Newspaper, and received the African Business Leader Award from the Africa-America Institute. He received honorary degrees from the University of Lagos as well as from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and was recognized by Forbes Africa as one of the most influential figures in banking.

#TravelUpdate | No More Manual Bag Searches at Lagos Airport – FAAN

Last year, I sat down with HM Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and he set out a number of grand plans. I remember telling him Nigerians will hold him to account in those promises and true to his words, he has delivered on most. (Watch full interview in link below)

Now, as part of efforts to improve Aviation Security at our airports, FAAN has phased out physical luggage checks at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (international terminals) in a major upgrade to Nigeria’s aviation experience and the experience of travellers at the airport.

The Koko of This Matter:
With the deployment of cutting-edge Orion 928DX scanners, passengers will now enjoy faster, smarter, and more secure screening.

These AI-powered machines can detect:
•Narcotics
•Undeclared currency
•Explosives
•Organic and agricultural products

All flagged items will trigger automated secondary screening, eliminating delays and reducing human interference.

2. FAAN is also deploying e-gates, dismantling old search tables, and installing central surveillance across agencies — Customs, Immigration, NDLEA, and more — to ensure accountability and transparency.

Nigeria’s airports are entering a new era on the back of reforms in the aviation sector. Welcome to modern travel.

Well done, @FAAN_Official @fkeyamo @officialABAT

#TheTiger

https://x.com/otegaogra/status/1910031691684684085?s=46&t=8F-ucXA74YZTtncamgUBZQ

A Wake-Up Call to Public Servants: Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s Bold Stand for Nigeria’s Revival

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

 

At a time when Nigeria’s public service is plagued by inefficiency, lethargy, and endemic corruption, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has sounded an urgent clarion call to public servants: return to diligence, patriotism, and unwavering commitment to national development. His message, though direct and seemingly simple, strikes at the very heart of Nigeria’s governance crisis and poses a fundamental question to every civil servant: What is your contribution to the rebirth of Nigeria?

 

Governor Oborevwori’s charge comes at a critical juncture in Nigeria’s history. The nation is on the brink of socio-economic collapse—crippled by mass unemployment, a failing naira, staggering debt levels, and institutional decay. In the face of this reality, Oborevwori’s words serve not just as a political speech, but as a necessary moral awakening. He dares to demand from public servants what Nigeria has lacked for far too long: accountability, productivity, and an ethic of service.

“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” – Ralph Nader

Public servants, as the machinery of governance, are expected to be the vanguard of national transformation. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, many have become the very clog in the wheel of progress. From the highest federal agencies to the most remote local councils, stories abound of dereliction of duty, inflated contracts, ghost workers, absenteeism, and outright theft of public funds.

Governor Oborevwori rightly emphasized that without a dedicated, ethical, and service-oriented public service, no government policy, no matter how visionary, can yield fruit. Echoing this, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once noted, “Good governance is perhaps the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.” And good governance cannot exist where public servants are more committed to personal enrichment than public service.

The Nigerian civil service, once regarded as one of the most professional in Africa during the post-independence era, has deteriorated to a bastion of inefficiency. A World Bank report in 2023 estimated that Nigeria loses over $18 billion annually to public sector inefficiencies and corruption. These are not just numbers—they represent schools not built, hospitals without medicine, roads abandoned mid-construction, and millions of dreams deferred.

In light of this, Governor Oborevwori’s statement is not a routine call to duty; it is a rallying cry for national redemption. “We must reawaken the consciousness of public servants to understand that they are not just employees, but stewards of national hope,” he stated.

“Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.” – Margaret Chase Smith

Nigeria is in dire need of such dedication. For decades, leadership has been reduced to a feeding trough for the political elite and their cronies in the bureaucracy. Meritocracy has been sacrificed on the altar of nepotism. Promotions are often based not on performance, but on connections and bribes. This cancer has metastasized across all levels of government.

The call for diligence must go beyond rhetoric. There must be a deliberate and structured overhaul of the public service system. Recruitment should be based strictly on competence. Training must be prioritized, and performance should be objectively measured. Those who fail to meet standards should be sanctioned without fear or favour.

President John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” In Nigeria today, too many public servants are still asking what they can steal from their country. This mindset must change, and change fast. Governor Oborevwori’s words should be amplified across all states and ministries.

His administration in Delta State has shown promising signs. The state has recorded improvements in internally generated revenue, infrastructural development, and youth empowerment programs. These successes are not accidental—they are the result of focused leadership and a growing insistence on performance-driven governance.

“A nation is not defined by its borders or the boundaries of its land, but by the collective spirit of its people.” – Barack Obama

Nigeria’s greatness will never come from oil reserves or abundant landmass. It will come from Nigerians who are willing to build rather than loot; to serve rather than exploit; to lead with integrity rather than deceive with slogans. The public service is the engine room of this transformation.

Public servants must also embrace innovation and transparency. In an era of digital governance and open data, Nigeria cannot afford to operate a 21st-century economy with a 19th-century bureaucracy. Oborevwori’s call must be followed by practical measures: e-governance platforms, performance-based incentives, public service audits, and whistleblower protections.

Nations like Rwanda and Singapore rose from instability to prosperity not through divine luck, but through visionary leadership and a professional, efficient civil service. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, aptly observed, “Africa’s story has been written by others; we need to own our problems and solutions and write our own story.” Nigeria must do the same—and it starts with the stewards of the state: public servants.

The Nigerian public deserves better. The citizens have endured years of broken promises, collapsing infrastructure, power outages, and unpaid pensions. They deserve a civil service that works for them—not against them. As citizens struggle with inflation and insecurity, it is unconscionable for government employees to remain indifferent or complicit.

Diligence must be revived as a national virtue. Patriotism must no longer be reserved for Independence Day speeches—it must be lived out daily in government offices, in the accuracy of data entry, the timeliness of memos, the fairness of policy implementation, and the integrity of budget execution.

Governor Oborevwori has lit a torch. It is now the duty of every true Nigerian public servant to carry it forward. Let every government worker ask themselves: If Nigeria’s success depended on my daily performance, what kind of nation would we have?

“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato

Let the message ring from Abuja to Asaba, from Kano to Calabar: public service is not a privilege to be abused; it is a sacred trust. Governor Oborevwori has reminded us of that trust. The question now is—will the Nigerian public servant rise to the occasion, or continue to dig the grave of a nation gasping for rebirth?

The world is watching. History is waiting. Nigeria cannot afford another decade of bureaucratic betrayal.