Jim James Ovia, CFR, CON
Jim James Ovia, CFR, CON is a Nigerian businessman, born on November 4, 1951. He hails from Agbor, a southern region, of Nigeria.
Ovia holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana, Monroe, Louisiana, USA in 1979 and a B.Sc. degree in Business Administration from Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA in 1977. He is also an Alumnus of Harvard Business School.
In 1990, he founded Zenith Bank Plc., Nigeria’s tier-1 bank and one of the most profitable financial institutions in the country. In 2010, he moved into the Chairman role of Zenith Bank.
During two decades of leadership, he helped position the bank as one of the largest and most profitable in Africa.
Ovia is the founder of Visafone Communications Limited; and the Chairman of both the Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI); and the National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC).
He is a member of the Honorary International Investor Council as well as the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). He is the Chairman of Cyberspace Network Limited.
In September 2018, Ovia authored the book titled ‘Africa, Rise and Shine’, published with Forbes Books.
Ovia is a member of the Governing Council of Lagos State University, Lagos and a member of the Board of Trustees, Redeemer’s University For Nations, Lagos. He was a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (1999–2007). He served on the board of American International School, Lagos (2001–2003).
Ovia headed numerous NGOs at various times. He served as the first President of the Nigeria Internet Group (2001–2003). He is the founder and Chairman of Mankind United to Support Total Education (MUSTE), a philanthropic organisation focusing on providing scholarships for the less privileged.
He is the founder of the Youth Empowerment / ICT Foundation, which focuses on improving the socio-economic welfare of Nigerian youths by inspiring and motivating them to embrace Information and communication technology.
In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by the former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Ovia was awarded an honorary doctorate in the 50th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos.
