Eze Igbo Ghana Congratulates New Zenith Bank MD…Hail other Igbo amazons in the banking sector

The Paramount King of Ndigbo in Ghana, HRM Eze Dr Chukwudi Ihenetu has congratulated the newly appointed MD/CEO Zenith Bank, Adaora Umeoji even as he hailed the stallion performances of CEOs of Fidelity Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe and her counterparts in Citi Bank, Ireti Samuel Ogbu Zenith Bank recently named Adaora Umeoji as its first female Group Managing Director and Chief Executive.

In a statement made available from the revered Obiukwu Obieziokwu palace in Ghana, the Umuduruoha Amigbo Nwagele Imo state-born Royal Father said the appointment is a confirmation of her hard work and years of excellent career in the banking industry.

Before her latest appointment, Umeoji had been serving as the bank’s Deputy Managing Director since October 28, 2016.

She has about 30 years of banking cognate experience, with 26 of them spent working with Zenith Bank.

In 2022, in recognition of her sterling attributes and contributions in nation-building, the federal government of Nigeria honoured Umeoji with an Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON She is a peace advocate at the United Nations.

In the same vein, HRM Eze Dr. Ihenetu, a Global Peace Ambassador, also commended the MD of Fidelity Bank,Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, for her outstanding performances as CEO of the bank
With her 30 years of experience, Onyeali Ikpe assumed office as MD/ CEO of Fidelity Bank in 2021.

This made her the first woman to hold the CEO position since the bank inception in 1988.
She has been an integral part of the transformation team as Fidelity Bank for the last six years.

She was formerly Executive Director, Lagos and South West, overseeing the bank’s business in the six states that make up the southwest region of the bank.

She led the transformation of the Directorate to profitability and sustained its impressive year growth across key performance metrics, including contributing over 28 per cent of the bank’s PBT deposit and loans.

Similarly, HRM Eze Dr Ihenetu equally hail MD/ CEO Citibank, Ireti Samuel Ogbu, for also doing the women proud in the banking sector.

Ireti was appointed to lead the Nigerian arm of global giant Citibank as the MD/ CEO in September 2009, the first time woman was appointed to the bank position after 36 years of operations in Nigeria.

Also she won the head of payment and receivables, treasury, and trade salutations (TTS) for Europe, the Middle East and Africa(EMEA) at Citi’s international Clients Group (ICG) based in London, UK.

“I’m delighted that these Igbo Amazons has continued to excell as top notch professionals in their chosen careers. Their achievements are also a clear indication that the gender barrier issue is gradually being overcome.
“I thus call on parents to pay attention to girlchild education by giving equal opportunities to male and female child in the pursuit of their dreams.
“Gone are the days when women are confined to the kitchen and later married off as full time house wives. Our women are doing great and should be encouraged,” he said.