Adaora Umeoji: Deserving Accolades for a Consummate Banker

THOMAS IMONIKHE
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FOR a nation fighting moral decadence and several existential challenges, the recent recognitions accorded the Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, a consummate banker and distinguished Nigerian with a heart of gold, the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and Anambra State 2022 Woman of the Year are well deserved.

And with over 20 years of unblemished cognate banking and broad executive management experience, the founder of, Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote ‘ethical banking and service to humanity’, she is truly worthy of every accolade for the younger generation of citizens to look up to, not only as role model but realize that gender is no barrier to attain excellence.

Umeoji was among 447 recipients comprising Nigerians and non-Nigerians described as “friends of Nigeria” of National Honours Awards conferred by President Muhammadu Buhari in October with the banker clinching the OON. Days after, she bagged the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, 2022 Woman of the Year.

Despite not been in the national limelight over the years for obvious reasons which include industry regulations and humility, the unassuming philanthropist had over the years through CBAN promoted ethical rebirth within the strategic financial sector and powered the Pink Breast Cancer Care Foundation that actively supports several healthcare intervention programmes nationwide.

In other words, the recent accolades showered on the DMD apart from truly well deserved, are the outcomes of diligent and meritorious assessment of the highest standards and not borne out of any parochial or pecuniary interest often associated with some recognitions in the public space over time.

Therefore, this is not surprising given the moral strength of character and academic background of the awardee, which many including this writer had discovered not only to be very intimidating but speaks volumes to her personality and perhaps her spiritual role model in the Holy Bible, Esther, the Jewish Queen of Persian in the Old Testament.

Indeed, besides possessing the basic attributes required for a successful career in banking which include integrity, passion for numbers, engaging and friendly personality, attention to detail, hard work and good judgment, Umeoji must have no doubt early in life, imbibed Esther’s exemplary life of holiness and virtues such as submission to the will of God, wisdom, strong faith, courage, humility, patience and a team player for her to have towered above her peers today.

Significantly also, the banker described as a virtuous woman with deep connection with her Creator and determined to win more souls for the Kingdom, recently donated a befitting church building for the use by worshippers of the Immaculate Conception Parish Dobi, in the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja where during the dedication reportedly said, “I’m here to hand over the keys of this new edifice for the continuous spread of the word of God. We pray that this will encourage others to do more for the diocese and for the men of God.”

According to media reports, devout Christian was touched to finance and donate the new church building after the temporary edifice used for worship there was destroyed by a windstorm on May 17, 2018 and later asked by Parishioners to intervene. “I dedicate this church to the blessed memory of my late mother, Chief (Lady) Ngozi Umeoji, who encouraged me so much to get this fulfilled,” she stated while the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace Ignatius Kaigama accepted the donation on behalf of the church.

Meanwhile, the NUJ, Anambra State Council, through its chairman, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, while justifying her emergence as the 2022 Woman of the Year Award explained that Umeoji defeated other equally strong nominees after a painstaking scrutiny by the union, adding that the banker stood tall above all of them and “met the criteria for this year’s own” adding that she became the first woman to win the NUJ Man of the Year Award since its inception in the state and hence named the Anambra NUJ Woman of the Year.

Again, having been part of the growth trajectory of Zenith Bank Plc, which has distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services sector through ‘superior service quality, unique customer experience and sound financial indices’ and one of the outstanding members of the management team of the bank founded by Mr. Jim Ovia, who also its current chairman, stakeholders believe that the sky remains the limit for the banker par excellence.

Umeoji, who joined the financial institution in 1998, has prior to her appointment to the Board on October 9, 2012 been the Head, Marketing Group, Maitama, branch of the Bank, Deputy Zonal Head, Abuja Zone before her elevation to Executive Director in charge of Abuja and Middle Belt Zones of the Bank. She served as the Chief Organizer of the just concluded Zenith Tech Fair Future Forward 2.0.

Earlier, the quest for knowledge had taken her to the University of Jos, Plateau State between 1992 and 1996 where she obtained a Barchelor’s degree in Sociology and also bagged a first class honours in Law from Baze University Abuja. Also she holds a Master in Law from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar, a graduate  of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) from Harvard Business School, Boston, USA.

Besides, she possesses a doctorate degree in Business Administration from Apollos University, Montana, USA while her dissertation focused on inspirational leadership even as her findings have since been recognized as a major contribution to leadership and people management.

Not then yet with studies, the financial expert attended the strategic thinking and management programme at Wharton Business School, Pennsylvania, USA and also holds a Certificate in Leading Global Businesses from Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. She is a fellow of such notable professional bodies as the Chartered Bankers Institute of London, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Institute of Credit Administration, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Meditators and Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, among others.

It is on record that in addition to presenting lead papers at major academic conferences and symposia, recently, she was a keynote speaker at the Zenith Global Economic Forum held in New York City, USA where she delivered a thought-provoking lecture on Financing Growth Drivers in the Nigerian Economy and at different times participated in high-level Bankers’ meetings with profound contributions towards the advancement of the banking industry, accelerating national economic growth and development.
Outside the banking sector, Umeoji has been a rare pillar of support in the area of research and learning on inspirational leadership, mentorship, talent development, collaboration, change and adaptability, strategic thinking, innovation and creativity, amongst others.

Apparently determined to further propagate public awareness of deadly diseases, the banker founded the Pink Breast Cancer Care Foundation which supports several healthcare programmes across the South East, South South, South West, North East, North Central and North West zones of the country and won several laurels for excellence and creativity in management.

Described as avid fan of German-born theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time whose famous quote, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile”, the banker’s outstanding contributions towards improving humanity has been similarly applauded by many organizations including the Nigerian Red Cross.

Above all, the passion for promoting professionalism in the banking industry and improving the wellbeing of the less privileged, made her establish the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform devoted for the promotion of ‘ethical banking and service to humanity’. Umeoji is also a Peace Advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC), a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and recently awarded a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by His Holiness Pope Francis in recognition of her selfless and remarkable contributions to spreading the word of God and service to humanity.

It is against the backdrop of the foregoing coupled with her remarkable contributions to the nation’s socio-economic development that industry stakeholders are unanimous that Umeoji, who has been DMD of Zenith Bank since October 2016, like Esther, will remain courageous, diligent and impeccable in discharging her responsibilities and clearly among the pearls to watch in the immediate future especially for an economy that is currently passing through turbulence.

For a better society

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