.Demand more customer-friendly products
Stakeholders of Zenith Bank Plc have continued to commend the board, management and employees attributing the numerous awards won by the bank to visionary leadership.
The Bank last week emerged as the Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Banking Awards 2022, retaining the award for a second consecutive year. It was also named as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022.
The awards, which were presented to the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenener Onyeagwu at the London Stock Exchange, were in recognition of the bank’s ability to embrace digital transformation and best-in-class sustainability and corporate governance practices, leading to a stellar business performance in a difficult economic climate.
Similarly, it would be recalled that the Bank on Friday, June 3 was presented with Champion Newspapers’ Bank of the Year 2021 Award at a colourful ceremony at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Meanwhile, the stakeholders in separate interviews with Daily Champion maintained that the bank has over the years made them proud in all ramifications, adding that Zenith Bank is one of the Nigerian Banks shareholders are proud of.
A shareholder activist, Alhaji Olatokunbo Gbadebo said that the reason why the bank is excelling is that its founder, Mr. Jim Ovia had a very clear mindset and focus on his dream for the bank and documented his dream-bank, and also how to achieve the vision.
He said, the founder wasn’t just a dreamer, but also an achiever, adding that some new ideas were also injected by other stakeholders who are part of the success story of Zenith Bank.
However, he maintained that the bank had a vision and remain very focused on its set targets with a serious determination of purpose.
He said, “Zenith Bank is a bank set out on the future banking experimental goals with pro-activeness to positive ideas; therefore the bank would be very difficult to beat. It’s a bank planned for tomorrow’s ideas and ideals for today, always ahead of time.
“Zenith Bank was one of the new generation banks at inception and they came with Mission/Vision Statements that were more focused and really determined than the older generation banks. Remaining focused on set goals with readiness to be proactive is one of the major parameters of success, and Zenith Bank has lived up to date. It’s a bank that competes with her set goals, which always leads to her surpassing set objectives”.
Also speaking, a customer of the Bank who pleaded anonymity maintained that Zenith Bank is a leading bank in Nigeria, adding that its customer-friendly products is among the reasons the bank is recording successes and growth in the last few years. He urged the management of the bank to come up with more customer-friendly products that will attract more customers.
Commenting on the double recognitions, Mr. Onyeagwu said: “These awards reflect our strong business fundamentals, resilience, and ability to adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of the market through our innovative solutions, as well as our commitment to global best practices.
“As a member and signatory to various domestic and international sustainability frameworks including the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria Sustainable Banking Principles, we continue to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by creating value for our shareholders, customers, clients, investors, communities and the environment through our practices, operations and investments,” he said.
He dedicated the awards to the Founder and Group Chairman, Jim Ovia, CON, for his pioneering role in building the structures and laying the foundation for an enduring and very successful institution; the Board for the outstanding leadership they provide; the staff for their commitment and dedication; and the bank’s customers for making Zenith Bank their preferred financial institution.
World Finance is a leading international magazine providing comprehensive coverage and analysis of the financial industry, international business, and the global economy.
The editorial combines award-winning reportage, covering a broad range of topics from banking and insurance to wealth management and infrastructure investment, with contributions from some of the world’s most well-respected economists and theorists as well as consultants in government think tanks and the World Economic Forum.
Zenith Bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous awards, with these latest accolades coming on the heels of several recognitions including being voted as Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best in Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, by the Ethical Boardroom; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation In Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards; and Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020.
Also, the Bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the “2021 Top 1000 World Banks” Ranking by The Banker Magazine, and the Retail Bank of the year at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards 2020 and 2021.
Similarly, Zenith Bank was honoured as Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020 and emerged winner in four categories at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2021, carting home the awards for “Best Company in Reporting and Transparency”, “Best Company in Infrastructure Development”, “Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment”, and the coveted “Most Responsible Organisation in Africa.
