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| Jim Ovia. |
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). This was announced in a State House Press Release by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on April 26, 2024.
According
to the statement, ‘‘the President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense
wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the
all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious
end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds and of ensuring that
Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education
and skills that will make them productive members of society and core
contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.’’
Jim Ovia, CFR, is the Founder and Chairman of Zenith
Bank Plc, one of Africa’s largest banks with over $21.4 billion in assets and
shareholders’ funds of over US$2.4 billion as at December 2023. Zenith Bank is a global brand listed on the
London Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In addition to major operations in Nigeria
and other West African countries, the Bank has sizeable operations in London
and Dubai.
Jim
Ovia is the Founder and Chancellor of James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos which
was recently approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to offer
postgraduate degrees in business courses. James Hope University commenced
activities in September 2023.
Through
his philanthropy – the Jim Ovia Foundation – he has shown the importance he
accords good education. In support of
the Nigerian youth, Jim Ovia Foundation offers scholarships to indigent
students through the Mankind United to Support Total Education (MUSTE)
initiative. Most of the beneficiaries of Jim Ovia Foundation scholarship are
now accountants, business administrators, lawyers, engineers, doctors etc.
He
is the author of “Africa Rise and Shine”, published by ForbesBooks. The book
which encapsulates Zenith Bank’s meteoric rise, details the secrets of success
in doing business in Africa. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School
(OPM), University of Louisiana (MBA), and Southern University, Louisiana,
(B.Sc. Business Administration). Jim Ovia is a member of the World Economic
Forum (WEF) Community of Chairpersons, and a champion of the Forum’s EDISON
Alliance.
In
recognition of Jim Ovia’s contributions to the economic development of Nigeria,
in 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honoured him with Commander of the
Federal Republic, CFR. Also, in May 2022, Jim Ovia was conferred with the
National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award by the Federal Government of
Nigeria. Earlier, he has been conferred with the national awards of Member of
the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, and Commander of the Order of the
Niger, CON, in 2000 and 2011, respectively, as a testament to his visionary
leadership and contributions to Nigeria’s financial services sector.
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention
that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill
development for all Nigerian students and youths.The Nigerian Education Loan
Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and
Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
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