Zenith Bank Chairman Jim Ovia to Pocket N50.7 Billion from 2025 Dividend

Jim Ovia, Chairman of Zenith Bank, is set to receive approximately N50.7 billion from the bank’s final dividend for the 2025 financial year.

The lender declared a final dividend of N8.75 per share, and with Ovia’s total holdings of 5.8 billion shares including 4.15 billion directly and 1.66 billion indirectly he emerges as the largest beneficiary.

While his total number of shares increased from 5.08 billion in 2024, his percentage stake in the bank fell from 16.19% to 14.13%. Combined with a previously declared N1.25 interim dividend, Ovia’s total earnings from Zenith Bank dividends are even higher.

Other top executives also saw their shareholdings and dividend earnings rise. Group Managing Director Adaora Umeoji increased her stake to 287 million shares, earning an estimated N2.5 billion in final dividends.

Several directors will receive payouts proportional to their shareholdings:

Henry Oroh – N275 million (31.43 million shares)
Adobi Nwapa – N263.8 million (30.16 million shares)
Akindele Ogunranti – N245.9 million (28.1 million shares)
Lawani Adamu – N116.4 million (13.3 million shares)
Louis Odom – N113.6 million (12.98 million shares)

Among non-executive directors, payouts are smaller:

Chuks Emma Okoh – N5.4 million (619,776 shares)
Juliet Ehimuan – N1.1 million (128,906 shares)
Pamela Mimi Yough – N1.4 million (159,941 shares)

Independent non-executive directors without shareholdings, including Mustafa Bello, Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, Omobola Ogunfowora, Peter Bamkole, and Rislana Abdulazeez, are not eligible for dividends.

Zenith Bank intends to distribute a total of N359 billion as a final dividend, bringing total dividends for 2025 to approximately N410.7 billion, pending approval at the upcoming annual general meeting.

The bank posted a net profit of N1.04 trillion, up slightly from N1.03 trillion in 2024, with gross earnings rising to N4.19 trillion. Total assets grew to N29.96 trillion, customer deposits reached N22.68 trillion, and total equity increased to N3.67 trillion.

Shareholders will approve the final dividend at the annual general meeting before payments are made.