Zenith Bank Plc’s group managing director/chief executive officer Ebenezer Onyeagwu has been awarded an honorary doctorate in business administration by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
A statement said the award, which was in recognition of his immense achievements at the bank and his contributions to the growth of the financial services sector in Nigeria and across the African continent, was conferred on him on Saturday during the 50th convocation ceremony of the university.
Speaking during the conferment ceremony, UNN vice-chancellor Prof Charles Igwe congratulated Onyeagwu for distinguishing himself in his career and serving humanity, which made him worthy to receive the prestigious doctorate degree from the university.
In his acceptance speech, Onyeagwu expressed his gratitude to the university 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 selection process of awardees by the institution.
“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,” he said.
The Zenith Bank boss noted that the award represented a validation of the outstanding corporate governance, ethical leadership, and overall outstanding performance of the bank.
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 and 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, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was conferred with the doctor of public administration, and the chairman of Hobark International Limited, Obiora Fubara, who received the doctor of business administration. A retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, was conferred with a doctor of law degree. However, her conferment was deferred to a later date because she was unavoidably absent from the ceremony.
