Adaora Umeoji Becomes Zenith Bank’s First Female GMD/CEO

Adeora Umeoji has written her name in the book of history after her appointment as Zenith Bank’s first female group managing director.

Zenith Bank has made history by appointing Adaora Umeoji as its first female Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

The bank announced that her appointment, slated for June 1, 2024, is pending approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Umeoji’s ascension follows the successful tenure of Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, who has served as GMD/CEO for five years until May 31, 2024.

Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji’s elevation has nearly 30 years of banking experience, including 26 years at Zenith Bank, Umeoji has held the role of Deputy Managing Director since October 28, 2016.

Also,She is an alumna of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program (AMP) and Columbia Business School’s Global Banking Program.

Additionally, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and a First-Class Honours in Law from Baze University, Abuja.

Furthermore, she has earned 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 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,” Zenith Bank said in a Tuesday statement.

“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,” the bank statement further read.

“She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and a First-Class Honours 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.”