FOREMOST BANKER, JIM OVIA APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF NIGERIAN EDUCATION LOAN FUND BY PRESIDENT TINUBU

FOREMOST BANKER, JIM OVIA APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF NIGERIAN  
EDUCATION LOAN FUND BY PRESIDENT TINUBU

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Founder and Chairman of  
Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education
Loan Fund (NELFUND). This was announced in a State House Press Release by the  
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on April 26,  
2024.
According to the statement, ‘‘the President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense  
wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important  
vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of  
higher education over a lack of funds and of ensuring that Nigerian youths, irrespective  
of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them  
productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global  
economy of this century.’’
Jim Ovia, CFR, is the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, one of Africa’s largest  
banks with over $21.4 billion in assets and shareholders’ funds of over US$2.4 billion as  
at December 2023. Zenith Bank is a global brand listed on the London Stock Exchange  
and the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In addition to major operations in Nigeria and other  
West African countries, the Bank has sizeable operations in London and Dubai.  
Jim Ovia is the Founder and Chancellor of James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos which  
was recently approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to offer  
postgraduate degrees in business courses. James Hope University commenced  
activities in September 2023.
Through his philanthropy – the Jim Ovia Foundation – he has shown the importance he  
accords good education. In support of the Nigerian youth, Jim Ovia Foundation offers  
scholarships to indigent students through the Mankind United to Support Total Education  
(MUSTE) initiative. Most of the beneficiaries of Jim Ovia Foundation scholarship are now  
accountants, business administrators, lawyers, engineers, doctors etc.
He is the author of “Africa Rise and Shine”, published by ForbesBooks. The book which  
encapsulates Zenith Bank’s meteoric rise, details the secrets of success in doing  
business in Africa. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School (OPM), University  
of Louisiana (MBA), and Southern University, Louisiana, (B.Sc. Business

 Administration). Jim Ovia is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Community  
of Chairpersons, and a champion of the Forum’s EDISON Alliance.
In recognition of Jim Ovia’s contributions to the economic development of Nigeria, in  
2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honoured him with Commander of the Federal  
Republic, CFR. Also, in May 2022, Jim Ovia was conferred with the National Productivity  
Order of Merit (NPOM) Award by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Earlier, he has  
been conferred with the national awards of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic,  
MFR, and Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, in 2000 and 2011, respectively,  
as a testament to his visionary leadership and contributions to Nigeria’s financial  
services sector.
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee  
sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students  
and youths.The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this  
innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.