GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR / CEO

Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji OON, is the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc.

With nearly three decades of cognate banking experience and over 20 years of extensive executive management expertise in Zenith Bank, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON has established herself as one of the leading figures within the banking sector. She is the Chairperson of Zenith Nominees Limited and She sits on the board of Zenith Bank (Ghana) Plc as a non-executive director.

Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji is an alumna of the prestigious Harvard Business School, where she completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) and Columbia Business School with a Certificate in the Global Banking Program. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and a First-Class honors in Law from Baze University, Abuja. Additionally, she obtained a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar. Her academic and professional pursuits culminated in a Doctorate in Business Administration from Apollos University, USA, with research focused on inspirational leadership which has been recognized for its significant contribution to leadership and people management.

Her commitment to continuous learning and professional excellence is demonstrated by her participation in executive management programs at esteemed institutions worldwide, including the MIT Sloan School of Management, USA, where she acquired a certificate in Economics for Business, Harvard Business School, USA with certificates in Leading Global businesses and the executive program in Strategic Management, and Wharton Business School with a Certificate in the Strategic Thinking and Management for competitive advantage program. Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji is a Certificated Professional Banker of the Chartered Banker Institute, and a distinguished fellow of numerous professional bodies, including the Chartered Bankers Institute of London, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the Institute of Credit Administration, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Meditators & Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria among others.

Throughout her career, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji has delivered keynote speeches and lead papers at prestigious academic conferences and symposia, influencing discussions on financial growth drivers and inspirational leadership. She has actively contributed to high-level bankers’ meetings, driving impactful strategies for the advancement of the banking industry and national economic growth. Passionate about mentoring and youth empowerment, she has delivered motivational speeches aimed at nurturing future banking professionals and leaders.

Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji is deeply committed to philanthropy and service to humanity. She founded the Pink Breath Cancer Care Foundation which educates, supports cancer patients, and promotes healthcare programs across Nigeria, and established the Adorable Foundation with a focus on educating and providing for indigent children, particularly the Girl-Child. Her humanitarian efforts have garnered recognition from esteemed organizations, including the Nigerian Red Cross and the Sun Newspaper which recently honored her with the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2023.

Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji’s commitment to ethical banking led her to institute the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN). She is also recognized as a Peace Advocate of the United Nations (UNPOLAC) and a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI). Her advocacy efforts were further acknowledged by His Holiness Pope Francis, who conferred on her the Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester.

In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored Dr. Umeoji with Officer of the Order of the Niger, as a recognition of her contributions to nation building which highlights her dedication to the sustainable development of the country.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mrs. Adobi Stella Nwapa holds a Bachelor’s Degree (BA) in History from Imo State University, a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from Strayer University, Houston-Texas, a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Jack Welch Management Institute and an honorary doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Abia State University.

She has attended several local and international courses and programmes, including Leading Change and Organisational Renewal (Harvard Business School), Key Executive Programme (Harvard Business School), World Finance/Winning Negotiation Strategies (HSM Americas), Developing Strategies for Value Creation (London Business School) and the Senior Management Programme (Lagos Business School).

She is a Fellow of several institutes, including the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC), the Institute of Credit Administration (ICA), the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (ICMA) and the Institute of Management Specialists (IMS), United Kingdom. She is also a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (HCIB).

Mrs. Nwapa comes to the board of Zenith Bank Plc with over thirty years’ cognate experience in banking, being a pioneer staff of the Bank since 1990. She has held several senior management positions in the Bank, including business development and branch and zonal management, and treasury. Until her appointment as Executive Director, she was General Manager and Group Zonal Head of Ikoyi Zone as well as Group Head of Diaspora Banking.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr. Adamu Saliu Lawani is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with over three decades of cognate banking industry experience. An alumnus of Auchi Polytechnic, Nigeria, he graduated with a Higher National Diploma in Accounting, achieving distinction. He holds an MBA from both the University of Lagos, Nigeria and The Business School in the Netherlands.

Mr. Lawani joined Zenith Bank in 1996 and has experience in operations, credit and marketing.

He has held leadership positions in various groups such as Corporate Banking, Conglomerate, Consumer Credit Department, Export and Trade Finance Department and Agriculture Finance Department, among others. His contributions have significantly enhanced the bank's growth and profitability.

Committed to continuous professional development, he has participated in Executive Education programmes at prestigious institutions, including the London Business School, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD Business School, France, and Lagos Business School.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration, Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Management, Fellow of Chartered Institute of Strategic Management, an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

Engr. Mustafa Bello graduated with B.Engr. (Civil Engineering), from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1978 with Second Class Upper Division and won the Shell prize for best project and thesis for Faculty of Engineering in 1978.

He served in the Directorate of Quartering and Engineering Service (Nigerian Army) between 1978 / 1979 and later joined the Niger State Housing Corporation between 1980 and 1983 as a Senior Civil Engineer. He served as a cabinet Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Federal Minister of Commerce between 1999 and 2002. He was subsequently appointed Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Investments Promotion Commission (NIPC) between November 2003 and February 2014. He is currently the Chairman of Invest-in-Northern Nigeria Limited, a special purpose vehicle for the economic and social transformation of the Northern Nigerian Economy.

He has been involved in several projects in Nigeria including CAC on-line project in 2002, developed WTO consistent Trade Policy for the Federal Republic of Nigeria etc. He has attended several conferences, missions and meetings and represented the Federal Government of Nigeria.

NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Omobola Ibidapo-Obe Ogunfowora, a Legal Practitioner and Corporate Governance Practitioner, graduated LLB (Hons) from the Cardiff Law School, United Kingdom and obtained LLM from the same University. She obtained a Master’s degree (MRes) from the Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom in 2010 and subsequently advanced to the Middlesex University, London, United Kingdom for her Doctorate degree and graduated with PhD in Competition Law.

Dr. Ibidapo-Obe Ogunfowora was a Law Lecturer at the University of Lagos, Nigeria where she lectured at the Department of Commercial and Industrial Law. She has been a Legal Counsel with Olusola Ibidapo-Obe & Co., Legal Practitioners for almost two decades and also a Dispute Resolution Compliance Specialist with Ombudsman Services, United Kingdom. She had previously worked as a Research Assistant with the Lagos State Judiciary between February 2003 and August 2004.

She is a Non-Executive Director with Barton Schools, Lagos, Nigeria, where she is responsible for overseeing the long term development of the schools and provide strategic advisory services to ensure sustainability of the schools. Dr. Ogunfowora is a Corporate Governance Practitioner

NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Peter Olatunde Bamkole graduated with B.Sc. (Hons) Mechanical Engineering from the University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom in 1984 and holds an Executive MBA from IESE, Spain/Lagos Business, Lagos (1999) and a PhD in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the International School of Management, Paris in 2022.

Dr. Bamkole joins the Board of Zenith Bank Plc with robust experience spanning several sectors including oil and gas, public utilities, and executive education.

He worked in African Petroleum Plc between 1985 and 1986 as a Technical Sales and Services Engineer responsible for industrial customers in the entire north and with Elf Oil Nigeria now Total Nigeria Plc between October 1986 and April 1996 where he rose to the position of National Lubricants Manager.

 He also served as an Assistant General Manager with Lagos State Water Corporation between 1996 and 2002.  Dr. Bamkole has been with the Pan-Atlantic University since January 2003 where he served as the pioneer Director of the Enterprise Development Centre of the University. He was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of the Pan-Atlantic University in January 2023.

He is currently serving in the following capacities:

• Advisory Board Chair of International Breweries Foundation
• Board Chair of Nigeria Climate Innovation Center. 
• BOT Chair, Global Entrepreneurship Network, Nigeria. 
• Chair, Pan-Atlantic University Endowment Fund
• Board member of AIFA Reading Society
• Member, Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), 
• Board Member, Novare Real Estate Companies in Nigeria.

 Dr. Bamkole is a Certified Online Learning Facilitator, Master Trainer, TPMA Certified Assessor, SME Toolkit Trainer as well as Business Edge Trainer and Assessor.

NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

Pamela Yough is a Banker, Financial Consultant and Investment Advisor with over 35 years of experience in the Financial Sector. Her experience covers Corporate and Investment Banking, Treasury, Correspondent Banking, Investor Relations and Wealth Management.

She was the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank (UK) Limited, a position she held from June 2017 to October 2021.

She joined Zenith Bank Plc in 1999 where she headed various departments in the institution and rose to the level of General Manager and Group Head in charge of Multilaterals, Conglomerates, Private Banking and Head of Investor Relations.

In May 2022 she was given an Award for Excellence and was recognised by WIF (Women in Finance Nigeria) for her contributions to the banking Industry. She has also held roles as a Non-Executive Director in some of Zenith Bank subsidiaries including Zenith Registrars and Zenith Realtors.

Prior to joining Zenith Bank Plc, Pamela worked in IMB (International Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited), where she started her banking career and later worked in Citizens International Bank Nigeria Ltd.

She is an Honorary Senior Member (HCIB) of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) London. She holds a BSc in Marketing from Pace University New York and an MBA from Long Island University, USA. She is an Alumnus of Oxford University, Stanford University, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and University of Cambridge, England where she has attended various Leadership and Advanced Management Programs.