Jim Ovia, a dandy of repute
That Jim Ovia is one of the most brilliant bankers in Nigeria is like stating the obvious. His wizardry as a banker beggars description, particularly when he held sway as the Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc.
The respected banker, who became the chairman of Zenith Bank Plc. in June this year, is also the promoter and founder of Visafone Communications Limited as well as the proprietor of the University of Information and Communication Technology.
Apart from his abiding love for financial analyses, one good thing about him is his dress sense, which many often describe as nonpareil. Whenever the astute banker appears at any social gathering, he always stands out in the crowd due to his impeccable dress sense.
Spyglass gathered that he is on the telephone lists of many globally recognised suit designers, having been their loyal customers for many years.
He obtained a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the Southern University, Louisiana, U.S.A in 1977 and a Master’s degree from the same university in 1979. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School “OPM”, Boston, U.S.A. He joined IMB as Financial Analyst in 1980 and later moved to the management centre in 1987. He headed the Corporate Finance Department of Merchant Bank of Africa from 1987 to 1990.
His interest in IT developed in 1977 when he worked as a part-time computer operator at Baton Rouge & Trust Company, Louisiana.
A motivational speaker per excellence, he once served as Director at Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc.
