Jump to content

Jim Ovia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by I dream of horses (talk | contribs) at 08:20, 17 May 2020 (clean up, typo(s) fixed: Master's degree → master's degree, , → ,). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jim Ovia
CON
Born (1951-11-04) November 4, 1951 (age 73)
Agbor, Delta State
NationalityNigerian
OccupationBusinessman

Jim James Ovia (born November 4, 1951) is a Nigerian businessman. He founded Zenith Bank in 1990.

Early life

Jim Ovia holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana, Monroe, Louisiana, USA in 1979 and a B.Sc. degree in Business Administration from Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA (1977). He is also an Alumnus of Harvard Business School (OPM)

Career

  • He is the founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria's tier-1 bank and one of the most profitable financial institutions in Nigeria until 2010, when he moved into the chairman role.[1] He was the recipient of a Nigerian national honor.[2][3]

During two decades of leadership, he helped position the bank as one of the largest and most profitable in Africa.

Ovia is the founder of Visafone Communications Limited and the chairman of both the Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI) and the National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC). He is a member of the Honorary International Investor Council as well as the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). He is the Chairman of Cyberspace Network Limited. He was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in the 50th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos [1]

Philanthropy

He is a member of the Governing Council of Lagos State University, Lagos and a member of the Board of Trustees, Redeemer's University For Nations, Lagos. He was a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (1999 – 2007) and served on the board of American International School, Lagos [2001 -2003].

Ovia headed numerous Non-Governmental Organisations [NGO] at various times including serving as the first President of the Nigeria Internet Group (2001-2003). He is the founder and Chairman of Mankind United to Support Total Education (MUSTE), a philanthropic organization focused on providing scholarships for the less privileged. He is the founder of the Youth Empowerment / ICT Foundation, which focuses on improving the socioeconomic welfare of Nigerian youths by inspiring and motivating them to embrace Information and communication technology.

References

  1. ^ "Jim Ovia is one of Nigeria's most successful businessmen - here's how he makes and spends his money". www.pulse.ng. 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  2. ^ "Jim Ovia Is A Zenith Man - Konnect Africa..." Konnect Africa. 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  3. ^ "Jim Ovia". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-11-10.

(Category:Public)

Jim james ovia donates 1billion, to fed. Health care, Fed. Govt. on COVID-19.


Flag of NigeriaBiography icon

This Nigerian biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jim_Ovia&oldid=957147110"