Jim Ovia

Jim Ovia
Jim Ovia; Àdàkọ:Post-nominals
	Jim Ovia
Ọjọ́ìbí	Jim James Ovia; 4 Oṣù Kọkànlá 1951 (ọmọ ọdún 74); Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria
Iṣẹ́	Businessman

Jim James Ovia CFR CON (tí a bí ní ọjọ́ kẹrin oṣù kọkànlá ọdún 1951) jẹ́ oníṣòwò àti òǹkọ̀wé ọmọ orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà. Òun ni olùdásílẹ̀ Zenith Bank, èyí tí ó dá sílẹ̀ ní ọdún 1990^[1] , ó sì jẹ́ ilé ìfowópamọ́ tó ń tà jùlọ ní orílẹ̀-èdè náà báyìí. ^[2] ^[3] ^[4]

Ní ọdún 2018, Ovia ṣe àtẹ̀jáde ohun tí ó pè ní "ìwé ìtọ́ni ìṣòwò" tí ó pè ní Africa Rise and Shine .^[4] Àkọsílẹ̀ rẹ̀ tún sọ nípa ìgbésí ayé rẹ̀ ní ìbẹ̀rẹ̀, iṣẹ́ ìṣòwò rẹ̀ àti bí ó ṣe dá Zenith Bank sílẹ̀ àti àwọn ohun mìíràn tí ó jọ mọ́ ọn.

Ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ Ìgbésí ayé àti ẹ̀kọ́

A bí James "Jim" Ovia ní ọdún 1951 nínú ìdílé ńlá Obi Olihe ti Agbor-Obi, ní ibi tí a ń pè ní Agbor, ìpínlẹ̀ Delta báyìí. Bàbá rẹ̀ kú nígbà tí ó pé ọmọ ọdún mẹ́rin, àwọn ẹ̀gbọ́n rẹ̀ sì ń ran ìyá wọn àti ìdílé wọn lọ́wọ́ láti tọ́jú wọn. Ẹ̀gbọ́n kan lára wọn ló san owó ẹ̀kọ́ rẹ̀ ní ìbẹ̀rẹ̀. Lẹ́yìn náà, Ovia kó lọ sí ìlú Èkó láti gbé pẹ̀lú ẹ̀gbọ́n náà, ó sì bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí í ṣiṣẹ́ gẹ́gẹ́ bí akọ̀wé ní báńkì kan^[3].

Lẹ́yìn ọdún mẹ́ta, ó rìnrìn àjò lọ sí Amẹ́ríkà fún ẹ̀kọ́ gíga ní ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ gíga, ó sì gba oyè ìyẹ̀wù àkọ́kọ́ (B.Sc.) nínú ìṣàkóso ìṣòwò láti Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1977), àti ìyẹ̀wù kejì (MBA) láti University of Louisiana, Monroe, ní ọdún 1979. ^[5] Ó tún jẹ́ akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ ní Harvard Business School .^[6]

Iṣẹ́ ṣíṣe

Jim ni Olùdásílẹ̀ ilé ìfowópamọ́ Zenith Bank Plc^[7], ilé ìfowópamọ́ ti ìpèlè àkọ́kọ́ ní orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà ati ọkan ninu àwọn ilé-iṣẹ́ ìnáwó ti o ni èrè jùlọ ní Nigeria^[2]. Ni ọdún 2010, o di alága ilé ìfowópamọ́ náà.^[8]^[9]^[10] Ni ọdún 2021, Fásitì James Hope, Lagos, èyítí o da sílẹ̀, ni Ìjọba àpapọ̀ fọwọ́sí tí wọn sì fun ni ìwé-àṣẹ ìṣiṣẹ́ nípasẹ̀ Igbimọ Awọn Yunifasiti ti Orilẹ-ede (NUC). ^[11] O gba ami-ẹri orilẹ-ede Naijiria kan. ^[12] ^[13]

Ovia ni oludasile Visafone Communications Limited^[14] ati alaga ti Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI) ati National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC)^[15]^[16]^[17]. O jẹ ọmọ ẹgbẹ ti Honorary International Investor Council àti Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). O jẹ́ Alága ti Cyberspace Network Limited. O gba oyè ọlá doctorate ní ayẹyẹ ìkẹ́kọ jáde àdọ́ta ọdún ti Yunifásítì ti Lagos. ^[18]

Ní oṣù kẹsàn-án ọdún 2018, Ovia kéde ìtẹ̀jáde ìwé rẹ̀ Africa, Rise and Shine tí wọ́n tẹ̀ jáde pẹ̀lú ForbesBooks^[19].

Òun ni olùdásílẹ̀ àti olórí ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ gíga ti Fásitì ti orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà tí ni jẹ́, James Hope University, tí wọ́n fún ní ìwé àṣẹ ní ọdún 2021^[20].

Àwọn ipa aṣáájú

Ovia jẹ́ ọmọ ẹgbẹ́ Ìgbìmọ̀ Olùṣàkóso ti Yunifásítì Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó, Èkó àti ọmọ ẹgbẹ́ Ìgbìmọ̀ Àwọn Olùtọ́jú ní Redeemer's University For Nations, Èkó. Ó jẹ́ ọmọ ẹgbẹ́ Ìgbìmọ̀ Olùṣàkóso ti Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (1999–2007) ó sì ṣiṣẹ́ gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọmọ ẹgbẹ́ American International School, Èkó (2001–2003).

Ovia ṣe olórí ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àwọn àjọ NGO ní ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àkókò, títí kan ṣíṣiṣẹ́ gẹ́gẹ́ bí Ààrẹ àkọ́kọ́ ti Nigeria Internet Group (2001–2003). Òun ni olùdásílẹ̀ àti Alága ti Mankind United to Support Total Education (MUSTE), àjọ onínúure kan tí ó dojúkọ fífún àwọn aláìní ní àǹfààní láti fún wọn ní ẹ̀kọ́ ọ̀fẹ́ ^[21]. Òun ni olùdásílẹ̀ Youth Empowerment / ICT Foundation, èyí tí ó dojúkọ àtúnṣe sí àlàáfíà ọrọ̀-ajé àwọn ọ̀dọ́ ní Nàìjíríà nípa fífún wọn ní ìyànjú àti gbígbà wọn ní ìmọràn láti gba ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ Ìròyìn àti ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ láàyè^[22]^[23].

Àmì ẹ̀yẹ

Ní oṣù kẹwàá ọdún 2022, Ààrẹ Muhammadu Buhari fún Jim Ovia ní ọlá orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà gẹ́gẹ́ bí Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).^[24]

Ní oṣù kẹta ọdún 2025, wọ́n fún un ní òmìnira ìlú London nítorí ipa tó ní lórí ìṣúná owó kárí ayé. ^[25]

Àwọn ìtọ́kasí

[1] ttps://punchng.com/zenith-bank-founded-during-1990s-brain-drain-founder/

[:0-2] 1 2 https://www.arise.tv/despite-economic-challenges-zenith-access-uba-gtco-two-others-generated-n3-11tn-profit-in-2023/#:~:text=Zenith%20Bank%20remains%20the%20most,profit%20before%20tax%20in%202023.

[okwumbu-3] 1 2 https://nairametrics.com/2020/07/25/jim-ovia-from-a-clerk-to-founder-of-nigerias-most-profitable-bank/

[forbes-4] 1 2 https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2018/09/24/founder-of-zenith-bank-publishes-inspirational-business-guide/

[forbes1-5] ttps://www.forbesafrica.com/featured/2018/09/20/not-necessary-to-be-born-rich/

[6] ttps://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/11/08/celebrating-banking-wizard-jim-ovia-at-69/

[7] ttps://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/11/okowa-salutes-jim-ovia-at-70/

[8] ttps://www.pulse.ng/bi/lifestyle/jim-ovia-is-one-of-nigerias-most-successful-businessmen-heres-how-he-makes-and-spends/79e7bhc

[9] "Ẹda pamosi". Archived from the original on 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2026-01-13.

[10] ttps://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2014/07/17/nigerian-multi-millionaire-banker-jim-ovia-becomes-chairman-of-zenith-bank/

[11] ttps://www.nuc.edu.ng/nigerian-univerisities/private-univeristies/

[12] "Jim Ovia Is A Zenith Man - Konnect Africa....." (in en-US). Archived from the original on 2017-10-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20171027191110/http://www.konnectafrica.net/jim-ovia-is-a-zenith-man/.

[13] "Jim Ovia" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/profile/jim-ovia/?list=africa-billionaires.

[14] ttps://techpoint.africa/2016/06/02/why-visafone-sold-mtn/

[15] ttps://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/jim-ovia-the-man-who-took-banking-to-the-zenith/

[16] ttps://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/NG/XNSA/ZENITHBANK/company-people/executive-profile/283588

[17] ttps://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2015/04/10/nigerian-banking-tycoon-jim-ovia-to-sell-stake-in-telecoms-firm-to-mtn/

[18] ttps://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2013/06/01/godfather-nigerian-banking/

[19] ttps://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2018/09/24/founder-of-zenith-bank-publishes-inspirational-business-guide/?sh=6e46e8007ad6

[20] ttps://theeagleonline.com.ng/james-hope-university-unveils-austin-nosike-as-new-vc/

[21] ttps://www.zenithbank.com/media/news/jim-ovia-nigeria-s-foremost-banker-appointed-chairman-of-nigerian-education-loan-fund-by-president-tinubu/

[22] "Ẹda pamosi". Archived from the original on 2025-10-13. Retrieved 2026-01-13.

[23] ttps://ynaija.com/tag/youth-empowerment-ict-foundation-sponsored-by-jim-ovia/

[24] ttps://thenationonlineng.net/full-list-2022-national-honours-award-recipients/

[25] ttps://thesun.ng/city-of-london-honours-jim-ovia-for-global-financial-impact/

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