INTRODUCTION

Jim Ovia was born on the 4th of November, 1957 to a large family in Agbor, Delta State. He is the second son of Obi Olihe of Agbor-

Obi, one of the most revered chiefs in Agbor Kingdom, Delta State.

Ovia attended Ika Grammar School, Bojiboji-Owa for his secondary education before going to oversee for his tertiary education. He

has a B.Sc. degree in Business Administration from Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A in 1977 and Master’s degree

in Business Administration from University of Louisiana, Monroe, Louisiana, USA in 1979. Jim Ovia is an alumnus of Harvard Business

School. He is married to Kay Ovia, Chief Executive Officer of Quantum Markets Ltd and initiator of Star Rising Talent Hunt for children

and young adults. His net worth as at 2015 was $550 million according to Forbes.

JIM OVIA LIFES

While growing up, young Jim Ovia always pondered about the career path to choose and was encouraged by his uncle to study

business administration. Heeding to his uncle advice and hard work made him what he is today. Ovia started out as a clerk at Union

Bank, formerly Barclays Bank in 1973. This was shortly after he finished secondary school. He worked for 3 years as a bank clerk

before moving to the USA where he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. Along the line, he developed a keen interest in

computer science and information technology. He worked as part- time computer operator at the defunct Baton Rouge Bank and

Trust Company. After graduating, he joined Union Bank to complete his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He also worked in Lion

Bank where he rose to the post of branch manager in Lagos. Soon after, Jim Ovia joined International Merchant Bank (IMB) in 1980

and was promoted from the position of financial analyst to bank manager. From IMB, he moved to Merchant Bank of Africa where he

set up a thriving corporate division. Talk about fiercely climbing the corporate ladder! Needless to say that the sky became his

starting point from then onward.

His career

Following the deregulation of banking sector during Babangida’s administration in the late 1980’s, Jim Ovia alongside some investors

started Zenith Bank in 1990. He was at the helm of affairs of the bank for 20 years until his resignation in July 2010. He was

reappointed the chairman of the bank in 2014. Under his leadership, Zenith bank grew and is recognised as the largest financial

service provider in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa. The bank offers a range of corporate investment, business and personal

banking products and solutions. Its headquarter is in Victoria Island, Lagos and has over 500 branches and offices across the country.

Zenith Bank became a Public Limited Company in 2001 and was listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) as well as the London

Stock Exchange (LSE). On 27th of April 2007, Zenith Bank PLC became the first Nigerian bank in 25 years to be licensed by the UK

Financial Services Authority (FSA), giving rise to Zenith Bank UK Limited. The bank also has subsidiaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone,

Gambia, South Africa and China. Jim Ovia had transformed Zenith Bank, a small commercial bank into a financial service

conglomerate. He has built an iconic corporate identity for the bank leveraging technology and reliable customer services.

Asides banking, Jim Ovia also has an interest in technology. He founded Cyberspace Network Limited in 1995. Cyberspace Network

Limited was one of the pioneers of internet services in Nigeria. The company provides software services and network services

including 4G LTE, CYBER MAX, METRONET. He also founded Visafone Communications Limited, a Nigerian wireless network provider

in 2007. The company was later acquired by MTN, a leading telecommunications company in Africa in 2015. Before the acquisition,

Visafone had more than 3million subscribers. Ovia is also a writer and motivational speaker. In September 2018, he published his first

book, ‘Africa Rise and Shine’. Africa Rise And Shine is Jim Ovia’s memoir. He bared it all in Africa Rise And Shine;  his business
success secrets and how he was able to create one of Africa’s largest banks. The book was published in US by Forbes Books in South

California.

Jim Ovia recognised the role sound education played in his life success which is why he established Jim Ovia Foundation in 1998, a

non-profit organisation in Nigeria. The aim of Jim Ovia Foundation is to invest in the Nigerian youth’s unlimited and untapped

potential as the key to socio-economic growth. He believes investing in the youths will enhance the standard of living of the society

and improve the Nigerian economy. Jim Ovia Foundation has four arms; The James Hope College, Jim Ovia Scholarship, Jim Ovia ICT

Entrepreneurs Programme and Empower YOUth Program. Over 1,500 students have been provided with university scholarships, more

than 3,500 youth has been empowered since 2002. Also, over 500 entrepreneurs have been empowered with ICT skills.

Four years after Jim resigned as CEO of Zenith Bank PLC, he was appointed as the Chairman, Boards of Directors and non-executive

Director in June 2014. Jim Ovia also chairs a number of boards including Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI), National

Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC) and Quantum Markets Limited and Cyberspace Network Limited. He is a member of

the Governing Council of Lagos State University, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) and National Economic Management Team of Nigeria.

Jim Ovia is also a member of Honorary International Investor Council and Board of Trustees, Redeemer’s University for Nations,

Lagos.

CONCLUSION

For concluding jim ovia is a great inspiration and a great sign to show that

only hard work pays off. It is one of the icons of the African economy.

Recognition and Awards

Professional Leadership Award at Zik Awards  in                                                                                     1999

Vanguard’s 20 Most Outstanding CEO’s in Corporate Nigeriain                                                                     2002

Honorary Doctorate in Finance by Lagos State University               in                                                              2005

CEO of the Year at ThisDay Award of Excellence in                                                         2008

Commander of Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria                             in                                                   2011

Lifetime Achievement Award at Africans Banker Awards                                   in                                            2015

Forbes’ Africa’s 50 Richest                                                                                   in                                      2015

Africa’s Business Leader at Africa American Institute Awards                                          in                              2017