Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, as
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive with effect from June 1, 2024, subject to approval
by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). She takes over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose
five-year term expires on May 31, 2024, after a very successful tenure. Dame (Dr.) Adaora
Umeoji is the first female GMD/CEO since the inception of the bank, and her appointment is
consistent with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan, and strategy of
grooming leaders from within.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Umeoji has been the Deputy Managing Director of the bank
since October 28, 2016 and has close to thirty (30) years cognate banking experience of
which twenty-six (26) years has been with Zenith Bank.
She is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School where she attended the
Advanced Management Program (AMP) and an alumnus of Columbia Business School with
a Certificate in the Global Banking Program. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology
from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a First-Class honors in
Law from Baze University, Abuja. She holds a Master of Laws from the University of
Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of
Calabar, and also has a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.
She holds a Certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Sloan School of
Management, USA, and has attended various management programmes in renowned
Universities around the world including the strategic thinking and Management programme
at Wharton Business School, USA. She also attended the executive program in Strategic
Management, and has a Certificate in Leading Global Business all from Harvard Business
School, USA.
She is a fellow of notable professional bodies including the Chartered Banker Institute, UK,
Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of
Credit Administration, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of
Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and
Administrators of Nigeria among others.
In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored Dr. Umeoji with Officer of the Order of
the Niger, as a recognition of her contributions to nation building. She is a Peace Advocate
of the United Nations (UN-POLAC).
She has impacted many lives through her philanthropic and humanitarian activities through
her NGOs; Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation and the Adorable Foundation that educates,
caters for Cancer patients and indigent children education especially the Girl-Child. Her
contribution to humanity was recognized by the Sun Newspaper which recently bestowed
on her the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2023.
As a result of her passion for promoting professionalism in the banking industry and
improving the well-being of the less privileged, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON founded the
Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote ethical
banking and service to humanity.
She is a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and was awarded a
Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by His Holiness Pope Francis.
