Now it’s time for exhausting work,” an in depth aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan quoted him to have stated shortly after the 2011 election was received and misplaced. That line ought to be apt for politicians who got here out victorious within the nerve-wracking 2023 elections. For them, 2024 ought to present the time for exhausting work.
Not like the yr 2023, which was filled with social gathering politics, political gaming, campaigns, and gerrymandering, the New Yr 2024 could be rocked by fewer campaigns. It will be a time Nigerians count on those that emerged victorious within the 2023 elections not solely put within the exhausting work however to brazenly flaunt their readiness to show across the ebbing fortunes of fine governance and reverse what has appeared like governments’ eternal failures to ship the products.
In secular and non secular parlance, time is fixed in worth. The clock has thus run over the house of time occupied by the yr 2023, now, the yr 2024 has crept in.
The outgone 2023 was largely dominated by politics, then financial points, issues about insecurity, and developments within the leisure world. There could be slightly alteration within the New Yr 2024, because the depth of campaigns could be largely toned down, however the characters and personalities that might form the face of the New Yr would nonetheless be interspersed between political faces and forces, enterprise icons, sports activities personalities, leisure leads and problems with insecurity.
Politics
Govs Abba Yusuf (Kano) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau)
Politics will largely outline the beginning of 2024 because the Supreme Courtroom is about to hit the ultimate gavel on the contentious governorship election petitions in Kano and Plateau States. The incumbent governors in Kano and Plateau States have been dwelling at knife’s edge because the Courtroom of Enchantment nullified their elections and ordered the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) to situation contemporary Certificates of Return to their opponents of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Nobody can predict the course of the apex court docket’s ruling however the unease within the camps of the incumbent governors has been palpable. Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State received his election nullified by the Courtroom of Enchantment on account of what the court docket stated was PDP’s lack of construction forward of the 2023 elections. Whether or not Mutfwang would have the final smile or whether or not his opponent Nentawe Goshwe’s image would pop up as the brand new helmsman of Plateau State could be determined this month.
The same situation is up in Kano the place Governor Abba Yusuf may also know his destiny because the apex court docket would adjudicate on him and APC’s Nasiru Gawuna.
President Bola Tinubu and Nationwide Meeting
Nonetheless, on the political turf, President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima would proceed to dictate the tempo of developments. Early within the yr, the president can be introduced with the 2024 finances handed in particular classes by each chambers of the Nationwide Meeting on December 30, 2023. That was the primary time since 1999 that the Nationwide Meeting could be bending over backward to cross a nationwide finances within the dying days of the yr, particularly when the finances was introduced to the chamber barely a month earlier. The 2024 finances was introduced to the Nationwide Meeting on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. No president has loved that luxurious from the nationwide lawmakers because the begin of the Fourth Republic and that would sign two indications: whether or not the president has a agency maintain on the management of the meeting or the lawmakers’ readiness to work with the presidential Villa.
The 2 henchmen within the Nationwide Meeting, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas may also play key roles in shaping affairs within the polity in 2024. Whereas Abbas has not ruffled an excessive amount of feathers along with his colleagues within the administration of the Home, Akpabio has been on the sting as to doable impeachment strikes by his colleagues. Although some Home members had been stated to be frightened by what they termed the condescending posture of the legislature the 2 presiding officers had been stated to have posted to this point, the Speaker’s actions and inactions may equally put him on the road of fireside within the new yr. already, a number of offences had been stated to have been raised in opposition to Akpabio, who sources stated has solely continued to interrupt the cube in bits.
INEC chairman and bye-elections
The face of the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, would once more pop up on the scene early within the yr as his fee conducts elections into senatorial districts, Home of Representatives, and Home of Meeting constituencies on February 3, 2024. Yakubu would obtain the unsuitable finish of the stick if there have been notable hitches in the course of the polls, simply as he would obtain plaudits if the elections go on with out unwarranted circumstances. Already, the main political events have flagged off the method to area candidates within the greater than 35 constituencies and 9 states affected by the election.
INEC had stated that apart from the vacancies that emerged on account of resignations and deaths, court-ordered elections would even be noticed within the constituencies affected by litigations.
Governor Fortunate Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State
Ondo State governor, Fortunate Aiyedatiwa would even be within the information as he strikes to nominate a deputy governor. As issues stand, he’s torn between naming a candidate from the camp of his late boss, Arakunrin Rotimi Akaredolu, or a distinct candidate altogether, which may dictate the character of opposition he would face within the build-up to the governorship major in April 2024.
Moreover the jostling for the place of deputy governor within the Sunshine State, there’s additionally the battle for who wins the gubernatorial major in April, forward of the governorship election on November 16, 2024. Aiyedatiwa, who could be searching for to contest the governorship seat within the election has the onerous obligation of rallying the assist of Akeredolu’s loyalists, who had been stated to have endorsed a candidate simply earlier than the demise of the late governor.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim
The Senator representing Ondo South on the platform of the APC is certain to drag some punches forward of the governorship polls within the state in 2024. He has already thrown his hat into the ring as a contender beneath the platform of the ruling social gathering within the November 16 election. Although he hails from the identical Ondo South because the newly sworn-in Governor Aiyedatiwa, it’s clear he has a battle in his fingers with the emergence of the previous deputy governor as substantive governor. How he wrests management of the social gathering equipment from the incumbent governor is what would make for classical studying. It will even be fascinating to see whether or not the presidential villa would again him, particularly following his refusal to assist the candidate of the APC institution within the race for senate presidency in June 2023.
Governor Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Phillip Shaibu and Dan Orbih
Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki would even be within the information early within the yr as he seeks to navigate the political trenches of the state to supply a successor and imitate his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, within the post-Chief Tony Anenih period in Edo. The governorship election within the state comes up on September 21, 2024, whereas the first can be held in February. The trio of Governor Obaseki, his deputy Phillip Shaibu, and PDP Deputy Nationwide Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih would play key roles in who emerges as the usual bearer of the PDP within the state, whereas former Governor Oshiomhole, now the Senator representing Edo North stays the godfather of the APC. Whether or not Obaseki, Shaibu and Orbih would work collectively to undermine Oshiomhole or the tide would flip in favour of the APC could be seen in the course of the yr.
Governor Fubara of Rivers State and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
The continuing feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike would preserve afloat the general public house even within the new yr. The interaction of political calculations within the state was but to put in an anchor as the sunshine dims on 2023. Although Governor Fubara had promised to implement the Abuja accord handed to him and the previous governor, sensible steps are but to be seen in that regard. He’s lower between his interior thoughts and the push by Rivers elders who’ve rejected the accord as a demise sentence for the governor. Early in 2024, a definitive place on the Rivers disaster would emerge. It’s nevertheless sure that the contenders in that battle, Wike and Fubara would preserve afloat the general public waters for some months to come back. Except for the disaster in Rivers, Wike’s political machinations, which have seen him maintain on to the management of the APC and PDP constructions within the state in addition to his political and administrative maneuvers of affairs within the FCT would put him within the eye of the general public for a lot of 2024, if not past.
Atiku Abubakar and Umar Damagun of PDP
The push by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to take management of the PDP would put him within the eye of the storm in 2024. The camp of the previous quantity two man has been furious with anger in opposition to the camp of G5 governors who had been believed to have torpedoed his presidential ambition in 2023. Although Atiku’s loyalists are of the view that the likes of former Governor Wike and his G5 loyalists ought to face punishment, loyalists of the previous governor seem to have seized maintain of the social gathering’s management. The appearing nationwide chairman, Umar Damagun was stated to be a nominee of Wike, the identical method the previous Rivers governor was stated to have nominated Senator Sam Anyanwu as Nationwide Secretary, apart from different members of the Nationwide Working Committee.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, a key member of the G5, was additionally to have sponsored the Deputy Nationwide Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja to the workplace.
Although Atiku’s loyalists not too long ago staged a protest on the nationwide secretariat of the PDP, searching for the removing of Damagun, with loyalists of the appearing chairman additionally staging a counter-rally every week later, Atiku’s bid to take management of the PDP will surely put him within the eye of the storm and preserve him within the limelight for many of the yr.
Atiku, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwakwanso
The trio of Atiku, Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, and Peter Obi, main opponents of Nigeria President within the 2023 election would additionally stay within the public eye within the New Yr. Atiku flew the flag of the PDP, whereas Peter Obi was the candidate of the Labour Get together(LP). Kwakwanso was the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Get together (NNPP) within the February 2023 election. The trio have indicated their need to work collectively in an alliance that might function PDP, LP, and NNPP going ahead, although the small print of which can be but to come back into the open. How they’ll work out the political machinations and intrigues inside their respective political constructions to style the much-talked-about alliance would preserve the information pages energetic all year long.
Abdul’aziz Yari and aggrieved APC members
Senator Abdul’aziz Yari was the governor of Zamfara State, who contested the seat of Senate President in June 2023. He squared as much as his social gathering’s anointed candidate, Godswill Akpabio, reaping off 46 votes to Akpabio’s 63 on the finish of the election on the ground of the Senate. Although, the APC had established a practice that every time the presidency goes throughout the Niger, the Senate presidency would additionally comply with swimsuit, Yari and a few components within the APC opposed the bid to put in Akpabio, placing up a stiff battle that ensured events within the contest recorded bruises on both facet.
Some insiders are of the view that Yari’s push in opposition to Akpabio was a sign of the resentment from a bit of the North in opposition to perceived southern domination of key nationwide positions and that these so aggrieved within the APC would possibly ultimately crew up with components in different political events to ruffle feathers with the Tinubu construction going ahead. The intrigues in Yari’s camp and the political gamesmanship would certainly occupy parts of the general public house within the following months.
PDP Governors Discussion board
Because the battle for the soul of the opposition PDP intensifies within the New Yr, the PDP Governors Discussion board expectedly will play a key position in figuring out the destiny of the social gathering. Although the present chairman of PDPGF, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State is believed to have sympathy for the G5 governors led by the FCT Minister, Wike, it’s believed the Atiku camp would pull some punches within the push for the management of the principle opposition social gathering.
Progressives Governors Discussion board
The Progressives Governors Discussion board (PGF) in yr. The governors have by no means did not intervene in shaping the course of nationwide affairs at vital instances and within the yr 2024, their voices would rely given the facility they wield as a collective.
Godwin Emefiele
The probe of the erstwhile governor of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele by the Particular investigator is an ongoing improvement with the Federal Authorities but to launch its ultimate place on the matter. Although Emefiele was launched from detention in Kuje Correctional Centre within the final days of 2023, the truth that extra would unravel in regards to the enormity of his alleged offences on the helm of CBN would preserve him within the information within the New Yr.
Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk
Late in December 2023, the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) uncovered a N37 billion fraud allegedly laundered by the speedy previous Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk throughout her tenure as minister. The alleged fraud was stated to have been dedicated in reference to a contractor, James Okwete, a cost the previous Minister has denied. The final has not been heard on this matter because the EFCC is placing the ending touches to the probe, which could additional result in a number of different developments in the course of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Finance minister and CBN governor, Cardozo
With the economic system tottering on the precipice, the names of the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of Financial system, Olawale Edun, and the CBN Governor Olayemi Cardozo could be on the lips throughout the nation. The yr 2024 is meant to showcase to the nation the true magic embedded within the two gents, who’ve been acclaimed because the brains behind the turnaround of the economic system of Lagos State. Ought to the gloomy prediction by Bloomberg involves cross, not a number of would problem the marketed monetary magic of the Lagos crew.
Diezani Alison-Madueke
One of many faces that might stay within the public eye for months within the New Yr is the previous Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke. The previous minister has been accused of monetary crimes by the EFCC and has been holed up in the UK instantly after she left workplace after the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan. Although media stories not too long ago quoted her as interesting to Nigeria President for leniency and to permit her to return dwelling, the EFCC would play a giant position in no matter destiny befalls, particularly as stories point out that she is already a topic of an extradition request from the Nigerian authorities.
Mele Kyari, CEO, NNPCL
The Chief Govt Officer of the Nigeria Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted (NNPCL), Mele Kyari is likely one of the personalities that might form the New Yr. his firm has already decided the destiny and financial fortunes of tens of millions of Nigeria within the outgone yr, 2023. With out clear-cut messages on when the nation would terminate the importation of completed petroleum merchandise, the query of subsidy would preserve cropping up. The issue would rear its head as soon as the Naira loses a cent in opposition to the US greenback and with the attendant rise in inflation, following any improve within the worth of petrol, Nigerians could must preserve their gaze on Kyari and his NNPCL for a while to come back.
Safety
Safety points once more got here to the fore within the final days of 2023 following lethal assaults on communities in Plateau State by bandits. This was after the inadvertent assault on Kaduna by drone from the Military. Banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping have continued to rock communities within the North Central, North East, and North Western elements of the nation, simply as unknown gunmen had continued their nefarious actions within the Southern elements. There’s nothing on the radar that the safety businesses have terminated the actions of those legal components and it’s anticipated that insecurity points will nonetheless occupy the nation’s consideration within the New Yr. This may preserve the Nationwide Safety Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, Service Chiefs, and safety chiefs within the public house.
Ethnic nationality teams
Actions of the pan-Yoruba socio-political Organisation, Afenifere, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan-Niger-Delta Discussion board (PANDEF), the Center Belt Discussion board (MBF) and the Arewa Consultative Discussion board (ACF) may also go a great distance in shaping the brand new yr. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo is pushing for the discharge of the chief of the chief of the Indigenous Individuals of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Afenifere’s relentless push for restructuring stays within the saddle, whereas the PANDEF is searching for power safety within the Niger Delta, apart its leaders’ intervention within the disaster rocking Rivers. ACF and MBF are equally searching for measures to make sure safety and sort out insurgency throughout the Center Belt and the northern elements of the nation. It’s anticipated that the voices of the teams will stay vociferous all year long.
Sports activities and leisure
The African Nations Cup will kick off on January 13, offering some thrills to the football-loving Nigerian populace. Although opinions are divided over the capability of the Nigerian crew to drag via within the competitors, many Nigerians will keep glued to their tv units as soon as the competitors kicks off in Ivory Coast.
Gamers within the leisure sector will equally play their roles in shaping the brand new yr. in 2023, prime Nigerian leisure acts showcased their excellence throughout the globe with a quantity placing up good exhibits on the Grammy and different nationwide and regional awards. The pattern is anticipated to proceed this yr as there aren’t any indicators of slowing down from the leisure large photographs.
Abdulsamad Rabiu
The costs of constructing supplies have hit the roof-top because of the current financial scenario in Nigeria. Due to this fact, when Nigerians consider cement, a significant part within the constructing business, the identify Abdul Samad Rabiu readily involves thoughts partly as a result of his current announcement crashing the worth of cement to N3,500 per bag ex-depot.
Abdul Samad Rabiu is a billionaire and businessman with a web price of $6.9 billion in 2022. He’s the founder and chairman of the BUA Group which was first established for commodity buying and selling with the importation of rice, cooking oil, flour, iron, and metal. At the moment, it’s a Nigerian conglomerate with pursuits in sugar refinery, the manufacturing of cement, and the true property sector.
By the BUA basis, Abdul Samad Rabiu has arrange a paediatric ward on the Aminu Kano Educating Hospital. BUA Group donated N1 billion entrepreneurship centre to UNIMAID, and related initiatives in some elements of the nation as a part of his many philanthropic endeavours.
This yr, a discover of insider buying and selling filed on the Nigerian Change Restricted disclosed that the Chairman of Bua Cement, AbdulSamad Rabiu acquired further 45 million items of the group’s shares. In accordance with the discover, Rabiu purchased 45 million shares on the price of ¦†85 per share price N3.825 billion, making him the final word majority shareholder of the organisation.
In accordance with the 2022 audited report of the corporate, Rabiu was the bulk shareholder of the corporate holding 19,044,995,225 billion shares, which was a 56.24 % stake of the issued share capital; and in addition held not directly 645,565,918 representing 1.91 %).
In its first quarter unaudited report, BUA Cement Plc suffered a 19.14 % drop in revenue after tax revenue to N26.800 billion from N33.142 billion reported for a similar interval in 2022. The corporate’s interim monetary report for the primary quarter ended March 2023 revealed that rising prices drove the downward pattern.
In June, the Worldwide Finance Company (IFC) introduced its funding of $500 million in BUA Cement Plc, which it described because the “largest-ever funding in northern Nigeria.”
The fund would assist BUA within the improvement of two extra cement manufacturing traces in Sokoto state, with a goal of 12,000 jobs.
The Company stated, “IFC at this time made its largest-ever funding in northern Nigeria, offering a financing bundle alongside African and European companions to BUA Cement Plc to assist the corporate part-finance and develop two new, energy-efficient cement manufacturing traces that may create as much as 12,000 direct and oblique jobs.” In July 2023, the worth of Bua Cement shares stood at ¦†98.95 on the finish of buying and selling.
In early January 2020, Rabiu merged his privately owned Obu Cement firm with the listed agency Cement Co. of Northern Nigeria, which he managed. The mixed agency, known as BUA Cement Plc, trades on the Nigerian inventory alternate; Rabiu owns 98.2 % of the shares.
Rabiu is the son of a businessman who inherited land from his father. He arrange his personal enterprise in 1988 importing iron, metal, and chemical compounds.
The Forbes Billionaires Record: Africa’s Richest Individuals 2022 describes Rabiu thus: “One other gainer: Nigerian cement tycoon Abdulsamad Rabiu, who’s $1.5 billion richer after taking yet one more of his firm’s public. In early January 2022, Rabiu listed his sugar and meals agency BUA Meals on the Nigerian inventory alternate. He and his son retained a 96% stake within the firm, which not too long ago had a market capitalization of almost $2.8 billion. (Forbes reductions the values of stakes when the general public float is lower than 5%.) BUA Cement, during which he and his son have a 96% stake, listed in January 2020”.
Rabiu is reputed to have a big urge for food for enormous investments, and this locations him amongst those that will mould the enterprise atmosphere in 2024.
Tony O. Elumelu
Mr Tony O. Elumelu who was solely 34 years previous in 1997 led a bunch of younger entrepreneurs to rescue a Nigerian financial institution that was on the breaking point. His intention was to reverse its fortunes and create vital worth. Their mission, although many individuals say was capitalist, had an sudden however essential social impact: the democratisation of the banking sector in Nigeria and throughout Africa.
At current, that financial institution, now the United Financial institution for Africa Plc. (UBA), operates in 20 African nations – with a presence in the US of America, the UK, and France, linking Africa’s economies to one another and the world. UBA serves greater than 21 million clients throughout over 1,000 enterprise workplaces and buyer touchpoints. The financial institution can also be connecting folks and companies throughout Africa via retail; industrial and company banking; revolutionary cross-border funds and remittances; commerce finance and ancillary banking companies.
The person Tony O. Elumelu, who drove the turn-around crew, turned the Chief Govt Officer (CEO) – the youngest financial institution CEO in Nigeria on the time. After 13 years, he retired in that capability from UBA and turned his consideration to Heirs Holdings in 2010.
With the precise ardour, imaginative and prescient, and dedication utilized in nurturing UBA throughout Africa, Elumelu started one other mission. These within the know stated, “Armed with the information, experience, and understanding of alternatives that existed in Africa he determined to show what had been a household workplace into an African proprietary funding firm designed to generate an analogous influence on different strategic sectors of the economic system”.
Once more, working with a small, devoted, and trusted crew, he got down to leverage his information and experience in enterprise administration and turnarounds. Collectively, the crew recognized enticing financial sectors, primarily based on industrial viability and the influence every would have on the continent’s financial improvement.
The brainchild of that endeavour at this time is Heirs Holdings, which operates companies in Africa’s monetary companies, oil and gasoline, energy, actual property, hospitality, healthcare, insurance coverage, and agribusiness sectors. The agency has vital pursuits in quite a few corporations, a presence in 20 nations throughout the continent, and its investee corporations make use of over 30,000 folks, whereas empowering 1000’s extra, though nonetheless younger.
With this impeccable observe document in enterprise, it’s apparent that Mr. Elumelu stands out as a kind of who will influence positively the enterprise local weather in Nigeria in 2024 with its attendant profit to the folks and your entire economic system.
Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Financial institution
Mr. Jim Ovia is a outstanding identify in Nigeria’s company scene, and well-known within the African monetary neighborhood. His story is one in all tenacity, inventiveness, and dedication to influencing the financial way forward for Africa.
It mustn’t come as a shock that Mr. Jim Ovia has been described because the Godfather of Banking by Forbes Africa. It’s because in a time of stress between navy and civilian regimes, intervals of unbelievable financial instability, and a decaying infrastructure, Ovia based Zenith Financial institution in Nigeria. Below his management, what began with $4 million in shareholders’ funds grew into one in all Africa’s largest banks, an internationally recognised establishment with greater than $16 billion in property.
The Banker, Prime 1000 World Banks in 2016 ranked Zenith Financial institution 325th on the earth with over 300 branches in Nigeria and a strategic worldwide presence within the UK, Dubai, China, Ghana, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. Ovia has all the time instilled a excessive degree of company governance throughout the Financial institution, enabling it to attain $850 million GDR itemizing on the London Inventory Change in 2013. In 2017, the Financial institution issued a $500 million Eurobond that was 4 instances oversubscribed and priced higher than the equal FG’s sovereign bond.
Mr Ovia is redefining the narrative and illustrating the true Africa behind the headlines at a time folks across the globe consider Africa, visualizing conflicts and warfare, famine, poverty, and desolation. His purpose is to assist rework the imaginative and prescient of Africa from “the Hopeless Continent” to a set of “Rising Nations.”
With a fast-growing center class, Nigeria is ripe for brand spanking new enterprise ventures, each from native entrepreneurs and worldwide buyers. And because the man who took Zenith Financial institution from a $4 million funding to a $16 billion world banking establishment, Ovia resides proof of precisely this. By his talking, writing, management, and philanthropy, he’s reminding entrepreneurs all over the world of this precious lesson: You will need to by no means enable the perceptions of others influence your individual imaginative and prescient of what’s doable for the long run.
Ovia gives his story as a dwelling testomony that success is the results of appearing with braveness and daring to attempt. His journey with Zenith Financial institution demonstrates the facility of integrity, exhausting work, perseverance, and dedication to obligation. He’s pushed by his mission to encourage entrepreneurs and buyers worldwide domesticate their ardour, comply with their instincts, and act with braveness as they pursue enterprise ventures that attain past their wildest goals.
Across the globe, Jim Ovia is called a person of integrity, braveness, willpower, and motion. This checklist of his accomplishments and achievements is testomony to exactly that character.
Jim Ovia was conferred with the AAI 2017 Enterprise Management Award by The Africa-America Institute, New York. He was awarded an honorary diploma of Physician of Enterprise Administration (DBA) by the College of Nigeria, Nsukka in December 2017. He was earlier awarded an honorary diploma of Physician of Science (D.Sc.) in Finance by the Lagos State College in October 2005.
An excellent philanthropist, Jim Ovia can also be the Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of James Hope Faculty, a co-educational boarding college in Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria.
He based Zenith Financial institution in June 1990 and was its pioneer Managing Director/Chief Govt for 20 years, till he retired in July 2010. Jim Ovia is at present the Group Chairman of the Financial institution.
Jim Ovia is a member of quite a lot of world organisations together with the World Financial Discussion board (since 2007), the Company Council on Africa (CCA) – a key voice for U.S.-Africa enterprise relations – amongst others.
About 50 % of the scholars of James Hope Faculty are beneficiaries of the scholarship programme of the Jim Ovia Basis. The Basis has up to now sponsored over 1,000 people who find themselves now graduates in varied disciplines.
In recognition of his contributions to the Nigerian economic system, Jim Ovia was conferred with one of many highest nationwide awards of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by the Federal Authorities of Nigeria in 2011.
Jim Ovia holds a Grasp’s diploma in Enterprise Administration (MBA) from the College of Louisiana, USA (1979) and a B.Sc. diploma in Enterprise Administration from Southern College, Louisiana, USA (1977). He’s an alumnus of Harvard Enterprise Faculty (OPM)- 2004.
Ovia runs an ICT Entrepreneurship Programme, via which he helps and encourages quite a few younger folks to discover the alternatives in Data and Communication Applied sciences.
He’s a author and motivational speaker. He has been interviewed by the next world networks: CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg and ARISE TV.
Ovia is the founder and chairman of Zenith Financial institution Plc, Nigeria’s largest and one in all Africa’s largest banks by shareholders’ funds.
Ovia based Visafone Communications Restricted, and chairman of each the Nigerian Software program Improvement Initiative (NSDI) and the Nationwide Data Know-how Advisory Council (NITAC). He’s a member of the Honorary Worldwide Investor Council in addition to the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). He’s the Chairman of Our on-line world Community Restricted.
The Jim Ovia Students programme, based in 1998, supplies support to excellent college students throughout undergraduate and graduate research. The Jim Ovia ICT Entrepreneurs programme supplies funding to probably the most promising 5 to 10 concepts a yr, via a aggressive bid course of. The Jim Ovia Basis has funded 1,500 scholarships totalling N100 million ($200,000) since 2010, and helps IT abilities programmes for marginalised younger folks, working with companions akin to IBM and Google.
Along with Zenith Financial institution, Jim Ovia owns stakes in actual property, oil and gasoline, energy era, and media. He earned the title of one in all Africa’s wealthiest personalities in 2015.
Ovia’s story is proof of a kind of that might assist form occasions in 2024.