The Board of Directors

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR / CEO

Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is a vastly experienced Chartered Accountant, a knowledgeable and astute financial expert, trained in reputable institutions of learning in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Mr. Onyeagwu is a graduate in accounting from Auchi Polytechnic, widely recognized as an institution that has produced some of Nigeria’s most renowned Chartered Accountants. He obtained the Higher National Diploma in Accounting from that institution in 1987.

He qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in 1989, almost immediately after graduation. He subsequently became a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), in 2003.

He has over 29 years of experience in the banking industry in Nigeria, out of which he spent 17 in Zenith Bank Plc.

Before joining Zenith Bank Plc, he worked at Citizens International Bank Limited between 1991 and 2002. He was one of the most outstanding branch managers in the bank, winning multiple awards and recognitions for his brilliant, excellent and highly professional performance on the job.

He joined Zenith Bank Plc in 2002 as a Senior Manager, in the Internal Control and Audit Group of the bank. His professionalism, competence, integrity and commitment to the objectives of the bank saw him rise swiftly between 2003 and 2005, first, as Assistant General Manager, then Deputy General Manager, and eventually, General Manager of the bank. In these capacities, he handled strategies for new business and branch development, management of risk assets portfolios, treasury functions, strategic top level corporate, multinationals and public institutional relationships, among others.

He was appointed Executive Director of the bank in 2013, and put in charge of Lagos and South-South Zones as well as strategic groups/business units of the bank, including Financial Control & Strategic Planning, Treasury and Correspondent Groups, Human Resources Group, Oil and Gas Group, and Credit Risk Management Group, etc.

Mr. Onyeagwu was named Deputy Managing Director of the bank in 2016. In that capacity, he deputized for the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank. He also had direct oversight of the bank’s Financial Control and Strategic Planning, Risk Management, Retail Banking, Institutional and Corporate banking business portfolios, IT Group, Credit Administration, Treasury and Foreign Exchange Trading.

Mr. Onyeagwu is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Oxford, England, from where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Strategy, and a certificate in Macroeconomics. He also undertook extensive executive level education in Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School of Columbia University, the Harvard Business School of Harvard University, in the United States.  

At Wharton Business School, Mr. Onyeagwu undertook the CEO academy and leadership training programmes. His strategic skills were further nurtured and honed at Columbia Business School strategy training programme. At the Harvard Business School, he acquired capabilities in negotiations and critical decision-making.

In the last six years, Mr. Onyeagwu has been on the board of Zenith Bank Ghana, Zenith Pensions Custodian Limited, Zenith Nominees Limited and African Finance Corporation (AFC). In AFC, he serves on the Board Risk & Investment Committee (BRIC), and Board Audit & Compliance Committee (BAAC).  At Zenith Bank Ghana, he chairs the Board Credit and Governance Committees.  

He is very well noted for his tenacity, entrepreneurial spirit, high sense of innovation and creativity and very inspirational leadership skills. Within the market, he is highly respected for his consistent and impeccable character, brilliance, deep knowledge and insight of the market, as well as for his strong professional and ethical principles, which have continued to endear him to all stakeholders.  

Mr. Onyeagwu is married and has children.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Until his appointment as an Executive Director, Umar Shuaib Ahmed was a General Manager and Zonal Head supervising 7 branches and 3 Strategic Business Units in Abuja and also coordinate 3 zones comprising over 20 branches in the North-West and North East.

Umar graduated in 1990 with B.Sc (Hons) Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and later obtained an MSc. (Banking & Finance) from Bayero University Kano in 1998. He started his banking career 23 years ago in 1993 at Citibank (Nigeria International Bank).

He joined Zenith in 2006 as an Assistant General Manager.  Through his career, Umar has held several management positions before this appointment.

He is a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Loan and Risk Management, Honorary Senior Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers and Member, Nigerian Institute of Management.

He has attended Strategic Business courses at London Business School and Harvard Business School, USA.

He is married with children

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr. Olisa is a Chartered Accountant and holds an MBA.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (FCA), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB) and an Associate, Chartered Institute of Taxation (ACIT).

He has attended several international courses including INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, France; Havard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, USA; London School of Economics (LSE) UK, and Oxford Princeton Programme, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Mr. Olisa has spent over twenty seven (27) years in the Nigerian Banking Industry. He joined the services of the bank in 1998. His experience covers Treasury, Banking Operations, Credit Risk Management, Telecommunication, Oil and Gas, Internal Control as well as Branch Management and Zonal Management.

Prior to his appointment, he was a General Manager and Chief Inspector of the bank, overseeing the Internal Audit and Inspection of the Group.

Non-Executive Director

He is a Professor, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at San Diego State University, California, United States of America. Prior to this appointment, he was the Professor and Dean, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States of America. He was also Professor and Dean, School of Health Professions, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York, United States of America and Professor/Chairman, University of Kansas (Medical Center), Kansas City, United States of America as well as Associate Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States of America.

He graduated and obtained his first degree in 1978 from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. He obtained his Master's degree in 1983 from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States of America and thereafter proceeded to the New York University, New York, United States of America where he bagged his Ph.D. in 1985.

Professor Enwemeka is a distinguished scholar who has authored several books and has provided administrative oversight and academic leadership for various degree programs and in various prestigious Universities.

FAAS FTWAS, FAS, FAEng, OFR

Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, a Distinguished Professor of Systems Engineering and former Vice Chancellor (2000-2007) of the University of Lagos and former Vice Chancellor of the new Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo Ebonyi State Nigeria (2011-2016); was the President of the Nigerian Academy of Science from 2009-2013.

He attended the University of Lagos from 1968-1971. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science [B.Sc. (Hon)] degree in Mathematics in the 1st Class Division by the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1971; a Master of Mathematics (M. Maths) degree in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science in 1973 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Civil Engineering with specialisation in Applied Mechanics/Systems in 1976 both from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He attended the Round Table at Oxford University in 2003 and also the 2007 MIT Research and Development Conference and Innovations for Economic Development Course as well as Harvard University of Kennedy School of Government in 2013.

Professor Ibidapo-Obe was also a Commonwealth Scholar (Canada) (1972-1976); an NSERC/CIDA (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council/Canadian International Development Agency (1977-1980) and a Senior Fulbright Research Scholar (1980-1981). He served the University of Lagos from October 1, 1972 as a Graduate Assistant through 1976 as Lecturer Grade II till 1983 as Professor. He was the Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities. He was awarded the Best Vice Chancellor’s Prize (2004, 2005) for the Nigerian University System (NUS). He was conferred with the national honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Nigerian Government in 2004.

He serves as an honorary International Scholar-in-Residence at the Pennsylvania State University and a Visiting Research Professor at Texas Southern University (2007 – present) both in the United States. He has similar recognitions with Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany. He has provided several consulting services on Science, Technology including Human Resources development to the United Nations and several of its agencies (UNDP, UNESCO, ILO et al) as well as the World Bank.

Professor Ibidapo-Obe was invested in 2004 with the prestigious Fellowships of the Academy of Science and Academy of Engineering Nigerian Computer Society and Mathematical Association of Nigeria. He was elected Fellow of the African Academy of Science (AAS) as well as The World Academy of Science (TWAS) in 2012. He was the Vice President of NASAC (Network of African Science Academies) (2011-2013).

A distinguished scholar who has authored several books and journals, Professor Ibidapo-Obe sits on the board of many companies as well as international organisations.

NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

Engr. Mustafa Bello graduated with B.Engr. (Civil Engineering), from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1978 with Second Class Upper Division and won the Shell prize for best project and thesis for Faculty of Engineering in 1978.

He served in the Directorate of Quartering and Engineering Service (Nigerian Army) between 1978 / 1979 and later joined the Niger State Housing Corporation between 1980 and 1983 as a Senior Civil Engineer.

He served as a cabinet Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Federal Minister of Commerce between 1999 and 2002.  He was subsequently appointed Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Investments Promotion Commission (NIPC) between November 2003 and February 2014.

He is currently the Chairman of Invest-in-Northern Nigeria Limited, a special purpose vehicle for the economic and social transformation of the Northern Nigerian Economy.

He has been involved in several projects in Nigeria including CAC on-line project in 2002, developed WTO consistent Trade Policy for the Federal Republic of Nigeria etc.

He has attended several conferences, missions and meetings and represented the Federal Government of Nigeria.