Zenith Bank Plc celebrates another milestone as its Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, retains the prestigious “Best Banking CEO of the Year in Africa” title for the second consecutive year.
This recognition comes from the International Banker 2024 Banking Awards, published in the Spring 2024 issue of International Banker Magazine.
Onyeagwu has received numerous awards in his career, including Bank CEO of the Year (2019, 2023) by Champion Newspaper, Bank CEO of the Year (2020-2023) by BusinessDay Newspaper, CEO of the Year (2020 and 2021) – SERAS Awards, CEO of the Year (2022) – Leadership Newspaper, and Banking CEO of the Year, Africa (2023) – International Banker.
Onyeagwu was appointed Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank on June 1, 2019, as part of the bank’s succession planning strategy.
Under his leadership, the bank has achieved significant milestones in financial performance, financial inclusion, corporate governance, and sustainability.
Numerous national and international awards have been bestowed upon the bank as a result of these accomplishments, including Best Bank in Nigeria by the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards for four out of the five years from 2020 to 2022 and in 2024; Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards in 2023.
Furthermore, Zenith Bank also received awards for Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021; BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards in 2020, 2021, and 2022; Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020; Champion Newspaper’s 2021 Bank of the Year; New Telegraph Newspaper’s 2022 Bank of the Year.
At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s 50th convocation ceremony on March 25, 2023, Dr. Onyeagwu was given a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration in appreciation of his noteworthy contributions to the financial services industry in Nigeria and beyond Africa.
What they’re saying
Speaking after accepting the honor, Onyeagwu thanked the International Banker publishers for the privilege.
“Being recognized as the ‘Best Banking CEO of the Year in Africa’ for a second year in a row is truly an honor”
“This recognition is a testament to our team’s joint efforts and commitment to innovation, growth, and adding value for our clients and stakeholders.
It also demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and strong moral standards, both of which are essential components of our overarching plan. I am incredibly pleased of our achievements and am excited about the bank’s future prospects as I pass the reins to my replacement and start the required regulatory cooling-off period”.
Bottom Line
The 2024 Banking Awards were determined by a number of factors, including the availability of much-needed funding for economic expansion, the use of cutting-edge innovation to improve security and productivity, commitment to sustainability and ESG principles, and intelligent investment to maximize returns and shareholder value.
