Adaora Umeoji

Adaora Umeoji
Born	(1974-02-08) February 8, 1974
Nationality	Nigerian
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, philanthropist, banking executive
Known for	First female Group Managing Director and CEO of Zenith Bank

Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji OON (born 8 February 1974) is a distinguished Nigerian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and banking executive, who was named the inaugural female Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank in June 2024.

Early life and education

Born on 8 February 1974, Umeoji earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Jos along with a second bachelor's degree in Accounting from Baze University, Abuja. She further enhanced her expertise by completing the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School and obtained a Certificate in the Global Banking Program from Columbia Business School.

Her academic portfolio also features a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, an MBA from the University of Calabar, and a doctorate in business administration awarded by Apollos University. Moreover, she holds a Certificate in Economics for Business from MIT Sloan School of Management and has undergone strategic management and thinking training at Wharton Business School.

Career

In June 2024, Umeoji ascended to the position of Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Zenith Bank PLC. Prior to this appointment, she held the role of Deputy Managing Director between October 2016 and May 2024. She has been a member of the Board since October 2012, contributing significantly to the bank’s strategic planning and expansion initiatives.

Achievements and recognition

• Conferred with the Officer of the Order of Nigeria (OON) national award in 2022 for her peace advocacy efforts endorsed by the United Nations (UN-POLAC).
• Honored with The Humanitarian Services Icon of the Year Award at The Sun Awards in 2023 in recognition of her philanthropic contributions.
• Received the Banker of the Year 2024 - Leadership Award presented by Nigeria’s Leadership Newspaper.
• Acknowledged as an Exceptional Woman Making Impact by Arise News in 2025.
• Awarded "Outstanding Female Bank Managing Director" in 2025 by Women in Aviation International’s Nigeria Chapter.
• Presented with the Community Excellence Award by Rotary District 9142 in 2025.
• Recognized for leadership and impactful industry contributions by the Association of Professional Women Bankers (APWB) in 2024.
• Named Security Conscious Bank CEO of the Year by the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
• Received an Award of Excellence for advancing Sustainable Development Goals from Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s Centre for Sustainable Development.
• Honored with Banker of The Year at the 25th Anniversary BOS Awards in 2025.