The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, was on Saturday, March 25, 2023, conferred with a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The award, which is in recognition of his immense achievements as Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank as well as his contributions to the growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria and across the African continent, was conferred on him during the 50th convocation ceremony of the University.

Speaking during the conferment ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Igwe, congratulated Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu for distinguishing himself in his career and for his service to humanity, which made him worthy to receive the prestigious Doctorate Degree from Nigeria’s first indigenous University.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwuexpressed his gratitude to the University of Nigeria for finding him a worthy recipient of the Doctorate Degree in Business Administration of one of the leading universities in Nigeria, considering the very rigorous process of selection of awardees by the institution. In his words, “for me to have been considered and to have passed through the meticulous selection process makes it the more dignifying because I have no connection with the University.”

Noting that the award represents a validation of the outstanding corporate governance, ethical leadership, and overall outstanding performance that Zenith Bank is recording, Dr. Onyeagwu dedicated the award to the board and management of Zenith, especially theFounder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, who has remained a mentor, a leader and a source of inspirationto everyone at the Bank and beyond; the staff, for being the shoulder and proverbial base of the pyramid upon which his achievements and success as CEO of the leading financial institution in Nigeria rests; the Bank’s customers for their unflinching loyalty to the brand; and to his family for their unceasing love and support.

Presenting the citation of Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu to the assemblage at the 50th Convocation Ceremony for the conferment of the Doctorate Degree in Business Administration, the orator of the University of Nigeria, Dr. Ikenna Onwuegbuna noted that Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is an alumnus of Auchi Polytechnic, the University of Oxford, England and Salford Business School, University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom, Delta State University, Abraka. Also, he is an alumnus of Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School of Columbia University, and the Harvard Business School of Harvard University in the United States.

Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Institute of Credit Administrators (ICA) and Senior Associate Member, Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (RIMAN).

Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu is the Chairman of the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers, Nigeria and Chairman of Zenith Pensions Custodian Limited and Zenith Nominees Limited. He is also on the Board of Zenith Bank (UK) Limited, FMDQ Holdings Plc and Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). Ebenezer Onyeagwu is a member of the International Monetary Conference (IMC), the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, member of the African Trade Gateway Advisory Council of the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and member of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). He also served on the board of Zenith Bank Ghana Limited, Zenith General Insurance, Zenith Securities Limited, Zenith Assets Management Company, Zenith Medicare Limited, and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Dr. Onyeagwu’s track record of excellence has also seen him win several individual awards, including being named Bank CEO of the Year (2019) by Champion Newspaper, Bank CEO of the Year (2020, 2021 & 2022) by BusinessDay Newspaper, CEO of the Year (2020 and 2021) – SERAS Awards, and CEO of the Year (2022) – Leadership Newspaper.

Other recipients of  Doctorate Degrees at the 50th convocation ceremony include former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was conferred with the Doctor of Public Administration, and the Chairman of Hobark International Limited, Dr. Obiora Fubara, who received the Doctor of Business Administrat ion. A retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, was conferred with the Doctor of Law; however, her conferment was deferred to a later date because she was unavoidably absent at the ceremony.

Chief Obi Iyiegbu known as Obi Cubana is a cosmopolitan business with his hands in many pies of business. It’s been a long time coming for him but his shot to fame came after his mother’s burial years ago. Today, he has remained one of the most celebrated business and philanthropists in the country. The Nightlife connoisseur has redefined the nightlife business in Lagos and Abuja with his upscale Cubana Club littered across the country. With lofty ideas and his ability to turn things into Gold have held his audience spellbound dishing out scintillating attraction that has brought about consistency in patronage. Today, his club has remained a mecca of sorts for fun seekers in Lagos and that mammoth crowd trooped in and out to catch a glimpse of the magnificent wonderment laced with a welcoming ambience.

The businessman is known to be a liquor influencer and an investor as he invested in the production of a wine brand that sold out after it was launched, Last year, he alongside his partner launched the popular Odogwu bitters and it became a household name for premium liquor at a minimal price. The bitters took over the market all thanks to his strong online presence and the number of advertisements and influencers that promoted the brand. It began to sell like a matchbox as he and his investor recorded massive Returns on Investment. Okpataezuora as he is fondly called is not known to do things in half measure as he loves to make a loud noise about his brands. As the bitters is clocking a year on Wednesday the 22^nd of March at a highbrow Location on the island Obi and his crew will be celebrating a year of dishing out premium bitters to their numerous customers. To further increase their brand capacity with another newly launched product; Obi will also launch a Premium Energy Drink and a Vodka Mix for their teeming customers who love the Cubana brand. Sources say the anniversary will be grand as they would be celebrating their distributors, customers, influencers and those that contributed to the success of the brand over the year.

If there is one person diligent in his business; Abdulrasheed Bawa the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC readily comes to mind the small but mighty eloquent youthful detective and law enforcement agent has remained one of the biggest nightmares to many fraudulent and corrupt person in the country. Since his confirmation as the head honcho of the Antigraft agency in 2021, he has hit the ground running and has recorded an unprecedented success in his fight against corrupt people and economic saboteurs. In fact, he is dreaded by many who live their lives on financial crimes as he and his team will fish them out with their technological-driven investigation that has caught up with many who are currently serving jail terms or many whose case is in court awaiting judgement.

While he does not care whose ox is gored; Bawa has remained true to the mantra of President Buhari which is to fight corruption and in the case of doing his job he has faced a serious crisis as some elements have tried hard to undermine his effort and some have dragged him with several campaigns of calumny but at every attempt to rub him, in the mud he comes out victorious and vindicated which naysayers and his traducers are not happy about. Since he assumed office, he was a united state trained investigator who knows his onions. He does his job with due diligence and he is never scared to say the truth at all times this is why he has gotten the support of Mr president over the years with the high-profile persecution he has secured.

A few months ago, he was alleged to have sold petrol bearing truck confiscated from a suspect among other allegations but on taking a proper investigation on the issues it was discovered that’s its just another tactic to ensure Bawa was blackmailed so he could hands off some high profile case he is chasing to get a conviction. Alas, that blackmail didn’t stop him as he continued chasing justices with much gusto. A court ordered his arrest for contempt of court over a non-compliance with a court order but he remained firm and unperturbed. With the numerous good work recorded under his supervision, his detractors have not backed off in their quest to ensure they see him sacked. They devised various means by sponsoring pocket protests, press briefings and media campaigns just to ensure he does not continue with the work he is doing.

Sources close to the Kebbi-born detective disclosed that he is unruffled and unperturbed as he is aware of the gimmicks of his enemies who want to oust him from office. “Bawa has gotten a vote of confidence from President Buhari so no matter how hard they try hard to make him look bad he won’t be sacked. Bawa is focused on doing his job. His tenure has ensured corrupt people cease-fire in their corrupt practices. So he is doing a good job and in this kind of job you don’t have too many friends if you do then you are not doing your job well. In his case he is doing something right that’s why they are hell-bent on wanting him out.”