Dr. Adaora Umeoji Emerges as Zenith Bank First Female GMD/CEO

On Tuesday, Zenith Bank Plc announced the appointment of Dr. Adaora Umeoji as the new GMD/CEO of Zenith. Before her appointment, Mrs. Adaora Umeoji worked as a banker.

The announcement of her appointment was disclosed on Tuesday in a statement signed by Michael Otu, the company secretary, and filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

Mrs Adaora Umeoji's appointment is scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2024, following the expiration of the sitting GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose tenure will end on May 31, 2024.

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According to Zenith Bank Plc records, Dr Adaora Umeoji is the first female GMD/CEO to have been in charge since the bank started operations. Her appointment to this stage follows her consistency with the bank's executive transition tradition, leadership-grooming strategy, and succession plan.

"Dame (Dr) Adaora Umeoji is the first female GMDCEO 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," part of the statement read.

Dr Adaora Umeoji was the Deputy Managing Director before becoming the first female GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc. She started as the Deputy Managing Director on October 28, 2016, with over 30 years of banking experience, 26 of which she has spent with Zenith Bank since its inception in May 1990.

She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and attended the Advanced Management Programme.

Dr Adaora Umeoji is also an alumnus of Columbia Business School, holding a Certificate in the Global Banking Program. 

Dr Adaora Umeoji studied Sociology at the University of Jos, where she has a bachelor's degree. She further enhanced her portfolio by holding a Bachelor's degree in accounting and a first-class honours degree in law from Baze University, Abuja.

Dr Adaora Umeoji has a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Calabar, and a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA. 

Dr. Adaora Umeoji also holds a Certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Sloan School of Management in the USA and has attended various management programs at renowned Universities worldwide, including the strategic thinking and Management program at Wharton Business School in the USA.

Dr. Adaora Umeoji's Education Background

Dr. Adaora Umeoji has a beautiful educational background. She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, where she earned a certificate in the Advanced Management Program (AMP), and Columbia Business School, where she obtained a Certificate in the Global Banking Program. She also holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Jos, a bachelor's degree in accounting, and a first-class honours degree in law from Baze University, Abuja. Additionally, she has a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom; a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar; and a doctorate in Business Administration from Apollos University, USA. She also has a Certificate in Economics for Business from MIT Sloan School of Management, USA. She has completed executive programs in Strategic Management and Leading Global Business at Harvard Business School, USA.

Dr. Adaora Umeoji’s Fellowship and Professional Membership

Dr. Adaora Umeoji has an impressive list of professional fellowships. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Banker Institute in the United Kingdom, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Institute of Credit Administration, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria.

Dr. Adaora Umeoji Honours and Awards

The Federal Government of Nigeria awarded Dr. Adaora Umeoji the Order of the Niger in 2022. She was also recognised as a Peace Advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC). In 2023, she received the Humanitarian Service Icon Award from the Sun Newspaper for her philanthropic efforts.