While talking on the Nigerian Exchange, Dr. Umeoji expressed her enjoyment of taking part within the closing gong ceremony, acknowledging the NGX’s visionary management and modern initiatives. “We are delighted to be here today to perform the closing gong ceremony – a symbol of shared progress and enduring partnership,” Dr. Umeoji mentioned. “The NGX’s leadership has been very creative and innovative, and their electronic trading platform – X-stream played a pivotal role in the success of our recapitalization exercise, which achieved a 160% subscription. The bank’s stock price has doubled since the recapitalization exercise, from N36.50 per share to N68. Zenith Bank has also reported impressive financial results for the Half Year (H1) of 2025, becoming the most profitable bank in Nigeria and paying the highest dividend in the industry for the half year.”
“We are committed to creating value for our stakeholders and will continue to partner with the NGX to boost the Nigerian economy,” Dr. Umeoji added. “Our expansion strategy is focused on following our customers’ businesses and ensuring that we go to countries and economies where we can scale and provide more returns for our shareholders.”
She pressured that the {bank} plans to make good on its promise of being buyers’ delight by paying quantum dividends to its shareholders by 12 months finish. According to her “For us in Zenith, we are looking forward to paying more based on the confidence the market reposed on us. We are working assiduously to ensure that we do not disappoint the Market. We are going to continue to be the investors’ delight, and we assure the market that we would continue to pay enhanced dividends come end of the year.”
Also commenting, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama emphasised the position of the NGX in creating worth within the Nigerian {economic} area. He mentioned, “I want to thank you all for making the market what it is. Without you, the market wouldn’t have seen the leap that it has achieved in the last one-and-half year. I spoke earlier that at my assumption of office, market capitalization stood at N55 trillion, today it is hovering around 89 trillion and 93 trillion. That was not done by a spirit, it was done by you. Your ability, tenacity, courage, vision and transparency have moved the market where it is. Our vision is that by next year, we will have the market at 200trn.”
The Doyen of the NGX, Alhaji Rasheed Yusuf whereas giving his remarks, lauded the Founder & Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR for his imaginative and prescient and management. He ended by referring to him because the “Doyen of the Commercial banking sector”.
Zenith Bank stays dedicated to creating long-term worth for its stakeholders whereas driving {economic} improvement in Nigeria. As the {bank} continues on its progress trajectory, it has its sights set on world enlargement. The {bank} intends to strategically leverage the capital raised from the Market to reinforce its scalability and ship enhanced providers to its valued clients.
The Bank’s observe file of wonderful efficiency has continued to earn the model quite a few awards, together with being recognised because the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the sixteenth consecutive 12 months within the 2025 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, revealed by The Banker and “Nigeria’s Best Bank” on the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025. The Bank was additionally awarded Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022 and 2024; Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020 to 2022, 2024 and 2025, within the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria within the Euromoney Awards 2023; and was listed within the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.
Further recognitions embrace Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for 5 consecutive years from 2021 to 2025 within the World Finance Banking Awards and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria within the International Banker 2023 and 2024 Banking Awards. Additionally, Zenith Bank has been acknowledged because the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, within the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for 4 consecutive years from 2022 to 2025 and ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa for 4 consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.
The Bank’s dedication to excellence noticed it being named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in The Banker’s Top 500 Banking Brands for 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year 2023 to 2025 on the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, and Retail Bank of the Year for 3 consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 and 2024 to 2025 on the BAFI Awards. The Bank additionally obtained the accolades of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, within the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.
Zenith Bank was additionally named Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, Best Company in Transparency and Reporting and Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment on the SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024; Bank of the Year 2024 by ThisDay Newspaper; Bank of the Year 2024 by New Telegraph Newspaper; and Best in MSME Trade Finance, 2023 by Nairametrics. The Bank’s Hybrid Offer was additionally adjudged ‘Rights Issue/ Public Offer of the Year on the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025.
