Zenith Bank Plc demonstrated its enduring leadership in Nigeria’s financial sector as its Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, performed the closing gong ceremony at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, in Lagos.
The ceremony marked a significant milestone in Zenith Bank’s long-standing partnership with the Nigerian capital market and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, corporate governance, and sustained value creation for investors.
In her remarks during the ceremony, Dr. Adaora Umeoji described the event as a symbol of shared progress between the bank and the NGX, noting that Zenith Bank’s success reflects the strength of Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem.
“We are delighted to perform the closing gong ceremony — a celebration of our enduring partnership with the Nigerian Exchange,” Umeoji said. “The NGX’s innovation and technological advancements have been instrumental to our growth journey, particularly during our recapitalization exercise, which achieved an impressive 160 percent subscription.”
Following the recapitalization, Zenith Bank’s share price doubled from ₦36.50 to ₦68 per share, driven by strong investor confidence and the bank’s robust financial performance in the first half of 2025.
Umeoji highlighted that Zenith Bank now ranks as Nigeria’s most profitable bank and has paid the highest dividend in the industry for the half year, reflecting its capacity to consistently reward shareholders.
“We remain committed to being investors’ delight. Our shareholders can expect enhanced dividends by year-end as we continue to deliver superior returns and uphold our tradition of excellence,” she added.
Umeoji reaffirmed that Zenith Bank’s expansion strategy will focus on following its customers across regional markets, scaling its operations, and deploying capital strategically to drive sustainable growth and market leadership.
The ceremony also drew remarks from key capital-market leaders. Dr. Emomotimi Agama, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), commended Zenith Bank and the NGX for their pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.
“Our market capitalization has risen from ₦55 trillion to nearly ₦93 trillion in the last 18 months. This remarkable growth has been driven by your vision, transparency, and commitment,” Agama said. “Our goal is to reach ₦200 trillion in market capitalization by next year, and with leaders like Zenith Bank, that ambition is attainable.”
The Doyen of the Nigerian Exchange, Alhaji Rasheed Yusuf, also praised Dr. Jim Ovia for his visionary leadership, referring to him as the “Doyen of Nigeria’s commercial banking sector.”
Zenith Bank continues to strengthen its legacy of operational excellence and industry recognition. Over the years, the bank has been repeatedly acknowledged for its performance, governance, and sustainability practices.
It was recently named Nigeria’s Number One Bank by Tier-1 Capital for the sixteenth consecutive year in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks Ranking 2025 and received the Euromoney Award for Excellence 2025 as “Nigeria’s Best Bank.”
Additional recognitions include Bank of the Year (Nigeria) – The Banker Awards (2020, 2022, 2024); Best Bank in Nigeria – Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards (2020–2025); Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria – World Finance Banking Awards (2021–2025); Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria – International Banker Awards (2023–2024); and Best in Corporate Governance, Financial Services, Africa – Ethical Boardroom Awards (2020–2023).
Zenith Bank also retained its position as Nigeria’s Most Valuable Banking Brand and received the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Award 2025 for “Rights Issue/Public Offer of the Year.”
With a strong balance sheet, disciplined management, and an expansion-focused strategy, Zenith Bank remains at the forefront of Nigeria’s financial sector.
The bank continues to play a leading role in deepening the capital market, driving financial inclusion, and advancing economic development across sectors.
By leveraging technology, customer-focused innovation, and global partnerships, Zenith Bank is positioning itself for sustained growth within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.
As the closing gong echoed across the NGX trading floor, it symbolized not just the end of a trading day but the continuity of Zenith Bank’s growth legacy — built on vision, integrity, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.