Business

ZENITH BANK CEO, EBENEZER ONYEAGWU CONFERRED WITH DOCTORATE DEGREE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

Published

2 years ago

March 27, 2023

ZENITH BANK CEO, EBENEZER ONYEAGWU CONFERRED WITH DOCTORATE DEGREE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, was on Saturday, March 25, 2023, conferred with a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The award, which is in recognition of his immense achievements as Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank as well as his contributions to the growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria and across the African continent, was conferred on him during the 50th convocation ceremony of the University.

Speaking during the conferment ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Igwe, congratulated Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu for distinguishing himself in his career and for his service to humanity, which made him worthy to receive the prestigious Doctorate Degree from Nigeria’s first indigenous University.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu expressed his gratitude to the University of Nigeria for finding him a worthy recipient of the Doctorate Degree in Business Administration of one of the leading universities in Nigeria, considering the very rigorous process of selection of awardees by the institution. In his words, “for me to have been considered and to have passed through the meticulous selection process makes it the more dignifying because I have no connection with the University.”

Noting that the award represents a validation of the outstanding corporate governance, ethical leadership, and overall outstanding performance that Zenith Bank is recording, Dr. Onyeagwu dedicated the award to the board and management of Zenith, especially the Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, who has remained a mentor, a leader and a source of inspiration to everyone at the Bank and beyond; the staff, for being the shoulder and proverbial base of the pyramid upon which his achievements and success as CEO of the leading financial institution in Nigeria rests; the Bank’s customers for their unflinching loyalty to the brand; and to his family for their unceasing love and support.

Presenting the citation of Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu to the assemblage at the 50th Convocation Ceremony for the conferment of the Doctorate Degree in Business Administration, the orator of the University of Nigeria, Dr. Ikenna Onwuegbuna noted that Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is an alumnus of Auchi Polytechnic, the University of Oxford, England and Salford Business School, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom, Delta State University, Abraka. Also, he is an alumnus of Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School of Columbia University, and the Harvard Business School of Harvard University in the United States.

Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Institute of Credit Administrators (ICA) and Senior Associate Member, Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (RIMAN).

Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is the Chairman of the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers, Nigeria and Chairman of Zenith Pensions Custodian Limited and Zenith Nominees Limited. He is also on the Board of Zenith Bank (UK) Limited, FMDQ Holdings Plc and Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). Ebenezer Onyeagwu is a member of the International Monetary Conference (IMC), the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, member of the African Trade Gateway Advisory Council of the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and member of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). He also served on the board of Zenith Bank Ghana Limited, Zenith General Insurance, Zenith Securities Limited, Zenith Assets Management Company, Zenith Medicare Limited, and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Dr. Onyeagwu’s track record of excellence has also seen him win several individual awards, including being named 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) – SERAS Awards, and CEO of the Year (2022) – Leadership Newspaper.

Other recipients of Doctorate Degrees at the 50th convocation ceremony include former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was conferred with the Doctor of Public Administration, and the Chairman of Hobark International Limited, Dr. Obiora Fubara, who received the Doctor of Business Administration. A retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, was conferred with the Doctor of Law; however, her conferment was deferred to a later date because she was unavoidably absent at the ceremony.

Related Topics:ebenezer onyeagwu Featured Zenith Bank

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Business

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

Published

4 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Sahara Weekly

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

ASR Africa emerges the Corporate Social Responsibility Champion of the Year at the Independent Awards 2024 in Lagos recently. Dr Ubon Udoh, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, represented the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu (CFR, CON) at the event to receive the award on his behalf.

Dr. Ubon Udoh thanked the organisers of the Award for recognizing the immense contributions of Abdul Samad Rabiu in creating sustainable homegrown solutions in Nigeria and Africa at large, in the area of health, education, mentorship and social development. He noted that the award, no doubt, will serve as an impetus for ASR Africa to continue to do more.

ASR Africa is an initiative of one of Africa’s biggest philanthropists and serial entrepreneurs, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder & Executive Chairman, BUA Group. At the heart of our mission lies a deep-rooted commitment to fostering substantial progress across the African continent through focused investments in education, health, and social development sectors.

Business

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

Published

8 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Sahara Weekly

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc on Friday, hosted the 60th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chief Davidson C. S. Alaribe, FCA, in a meeting aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation between both institutions.

The meeting signalled a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two institutions, as they explored strategic partnerships aimed at driving mutual growth and development in the financial and accounting sectors.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who welcomed the ICAN President and his high-profile delegation, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and assured that the bank is ready and willing to support the institution in its drive for excellence.

He said, “UBA is proud to be home to a significant number of ICAN members, whose expertise has been instrumental to our success as Africa’s global bank. This visit reaffirms our shared commitment to excellence and innovation.

Continuing, Alawuba stated, “We are particularly excited about potential collaboration in the Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP), training initiatives, and other business opportunities that will create a win-win for both organisations.”

The delegation had distinguished members of the institute’s council and executive team, including Immediate Past President of ICAN; Mr. Oladele Nuraini Oladipo, FCA, ICAN Council Member; Dr. Oluseyi Oladimeji Olanrewaju, FCA, ICAN’s Honorary Treasurer; Mr. Biodun Adedeji, FCA, ICAN Council Member; and Dr. Lanre Olasunkanmi, FCA, Registrar/Chief Executive of ICAN.

Alaribe who was visibly excited at the corroboration between both organisations, said, “UBA is not just a financial powerhouse in Nigeria but a global leader with a strong presence across Africa and beyond. ICAN recognises the immense value UBA brings to the table, and we are excited to explore opportunities for collaboration in areas such as capacity building, professional development, and business expansion. This partnership will undoubtedly benefit our members and the broader financial ecosystem.”

The discussions also focused on several key areas of collaboration in capacity building, Joint training programmes to enhance the skills of accounting professionals and UBA staff, collaborating on initiatives to promote ethical standards, financial literacy, and best practices in accounting and finance and setting up a branch of ICAN at the UBA House.

This historic meeting marks a significant milestone in the relationship between UBA and ICAN, two institutions committed to driving excellence and innovation in the financial and accounting professions. Both parties expressed optimism about the future and pledged to work closely to achieve their shared goals.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) is the leading professional accounting body in Nigeria, established to regulate the practice of accountancy and promote excellence in the profession. With over 50,000 members, ICAN is dedicated to advancing the science of accountancy and fostering ethical standards in the industry.

United Bank for Africa is Africa’s Global Bank. Operating across twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology. UBA is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally.

UBA, ICAN Partner to Drive Innovation, Excellence in Finance and Accounting

Business

DESPERATE NIGER BEGS NIGERIA FOR FUEL AMID CATASTROPHIC SHORTAGE!

Published

18 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Sahara Weekly

DESPERATE NIGER BEGS NIGERIA FOR FUEL AMID CATASTROPHIC SHORTAGE!

Nigeria Rescues Its Defiant Neighbor as Fuel Crisis Spirals Out of Control

Abuja/Niamey – March 15, 2025 – In a stunning turn of events, Niger Republic has turned to its long-estranged neighbor, Nigeria, for help after being crippled by a catastrophic fuel shortage. Despite months of diplomatic tensions, hostile rhetoric, and even allegations of sabotage, Niger’s military junta has been forced to swallow its pride and beg Nigeria for emergency fuel supplies to prevent total economic collapse.

Sources reveal that a high-powered delegation from the junta rushed to Abuja in a desperate plea for assistance. The outcome? A staggering 300 truckloads of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) approved for immediate delivery—a move insiders say Nigeria is leveraging as a “strategic bargaining tool” in negotiations to pull Niger back into the ECOWAS fold.

Niger’s Fuel Nightmare: Prices Soar to Unthinkable Heights

With its economy in free fall, Niger’s fuel crisis has reached nightmarish levels. Reports indicate that petrol prices have skyrocketed to an eye-watering N8,750 per liter in some areas—forcing citizens into dire straits. Border towns, once lifelines for smuggled Nigerian fuel, have been left paralyzed.

A Nigerian transborder businessman, Mallam Abubakar Usman, described the situation as “beyond critical,” revealing that in the border town of Konni, fuel sells for 1,200 CFA (N2,500 per liter), while in Agadez, prices soar to 3,000 CFA (N7,500 per liter). The situation is even grimmer in Arilit, near Algeria, where a single liter costs an unbelievable 3,500 CFA (N8,750).

How Niger’s Junta Backfired on China—And Paid the Price

Niger’s woes, experts say, are self-inflicted. The junta’s reckless confrontation with Chinese oil giants has backfired disastrously. After securing a $400 million advance from the China National Petroleum Corporation, Niger found itself unable to repay. But instead of negotiating, the junta took a hardline approach, slapping an outrageous $80 billion tax demand on Soraz (Zinder Refinery Company), despite owing $250 billion to Chinese oil firms.

China’s response was swift and brutal. It shut down operations, expelled Nigerien officials, and froze accounts, effectively collapsing Niger’s petroleum sector overnight. The Soraz refinery—a lifeline for fuel supplies—ground to a halt, plunging the country into chaos.

Yet, despite the junta’s blunders, Niger remains too proud to admit its dependency on Nigeria. Reports indicate that Niger’s state-controlled media has deliberately avoided acknowledging Nigeria’s critical intervention, instead painting the fuel supply as an internal success.

Nigeria: The Unexpected Savior?

Despite Niger’s earlier accusations that Nigeria was plotting against it, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has chosen to rise above past animosities and extend an olive branch. The silent fuel deal, orchestrated behind closed doors, is more than just humanitarian aid—it’s a masterstroke in diplomatic strategy.

A senior Nigerian government official revealed: “We do not want to blow our trumpet. Rather, we want to use this as leverage to bring them back into ECOWAS. The truth is, they simply do not have the resources to sustain themselves without us.”

Nigeria’s Oil Industry: Strong Enough to Bail Out Niger?

Oil marketers and industry experts confirm that Nigeria has the capacity to shoulder Niger’s crisis without disrupting its own economy. With the Dangote refinery, the Port Harcourt refinery, and additional imports, Nigeria remains a dominant force in West African energy.

Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, confirmed that the country has ample resources: “If we have a diplomatic reason for this, it is completely doable.”

Will This Lifeline Bring Niger Back to ECOWAS?

While Niger’s military rulers have yet to acknowledge Nigeria’s help, the reality remains—without Nigeria, Niger’s survival is at stake. This fuel crisis has exposed the junta’s vulnerability, forcing it to rely on the very country it once accused of betrayal.

As Nigeria continues its strategic maneuvering, one question lingers: Will Niger finally come back to the ECOWAS fold, or will it gamble on further isolation?