By Emmanuel Uffot
Zenith Bank Plc, has been bestowed with a twin award of Best Commercial Bank and Best Corporate Governance Bank in the 2022 edition of World Finance Banking Awards. The bank emerged as the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria in the World Finance Banking Awards for the second consecutive year. It was also named the Best Corporate Governance Bank in Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022.
The awards which were presented to the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, MrEbenezar Onyeagwu at the event held at the London StockExchange last week. The organisers’ said the awards to the bank were in recognition of its ability to embrace digital transformation and best-in- class sustainability and corporate governance practices leading to sterling business performance in a difficult economic climate.
Onyeagwu, in his reaction to the double awards, said the awardswere a reflection of the bank’s strong business fundamentals and ability to adapt to the prevailing changing dynamics of the market. “These awards reflect our strong business fundamentals, resilience and ability to adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of the market through our innovative solutions, as well as our commitment to global best practices. As a member and signatory to various domestic and international sustainability frameworks including the United Nations Global Compact and the Central Bank of Nigeria Sustainable Banking Principles, we continue to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by creating value for our shareholders, customers, clients, investors, communities and environment through our practices, operations and investments”.
The Zenith Bank CEO, however dedicated the awards to the founder and Group Chairman Jim Ovia for his pioneering role in building the structures and laying the foundation for an enduring and successful institution. He equally extended his commendation to the Board for the outstanding leadership they provide, the staff for their commitment and dedication and the teaming bank’s customers for making the bank their preferred financial institutions for the over two decades of its operation in Nigeria and offshore.
To arrive at the winners of the coveted award, editors of the Global Finance, the organisers of the award are said to have made the selections after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers, banking consultants and analysts worldwide.
Some of the criteria considered by the body included growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation. Others were opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts and banking consultants among others.
Global Finance Best Bank Awards are reputable financial awards recognized world wide as the most credible global banking and finance awards in the industry. Winners for the award are chosen from 150 countries across Asia, Africa, Central America, Europe, South America, North America, Middle East and the Caribbean.
Zenith Bank, which is one of the leading banks in Nigeria has a rich profile of international and domestic honours and awards through its sterling performance in the industry. A roll call of such awards include, Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance awards in 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year in Nigeria in the Bankers of the Year Awards of 2020, the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria from the Bankers Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, Number one Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in 2021, Top 1000 World Banks Ranking by the Bankers Magazine, the Retail Bank of the Year in BusinessDayNewspaper Banks and Other Financial Institutions Awards 2020 and 2021 and Bank of the Decade ThisDay Newspaper Awards 2020.
The Tier-1 new generation bank was founded by Jim Ovia in May 1990 and commenced operation as a commercial bank in July 1990. The bank which currently has a capital and shareholders’ funds of N1.28 trillion and N9.6 trillion total asset base, operates from no fewer than 500 branches across Nigeria with offshore operations in United Kingdom, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Gambia.
