By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Zenith Bank has just retained its perch as the Best Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa 2021, a back-to-back win after beating competitors to the same accolade in 2020.
The Ethical Boardroom magazine gave the award to Nigeria’s second richest bank by asset value for its adherence to global best practices and corporate governance, a field in which Zenith Bank sets an example for the banking industry.
“This recognition is a testament to our commitment to quality, accountability, fairness and transparency in our engagement with all stakeholders,” said Zenith Bank Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Ebenezer Onyeagwu.
“It is also an affirmation of the bank’s professionalism, ethical conduct and sustenance of global best practices and standards which is attributable to the joint collaboration of the management and staff.”
This award rides on the crest of several other awards and tokens of recognition Zenith Bank has received in recent times for excellent performance and global best practices.
These awards include
· Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020
· Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards 2020 and 2021
· Best Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa 2020 by The Ethical Boardroom.
· Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in The Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021
· Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the “2020 Top 1000 World Banks” Ranking by The Banker Magazine
· Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at ThisDay Awards 2020
· Retail Bank of the year at the 2020 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards
· Best Company in Promotion of Good Health and Well-Being
· Best Company in Promotion of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the Sustainability, Enterprise and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2020
· Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria 2019 by the World Finance and the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co
· Bank of the Year and Best Bank in Retail Banking at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards
Zenith Bank is adjudged by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as corporate governance compliant hence its listing on the Premium Board of the Exchange.
The bank says it sustains this reputation and reappraises its processes to ensure its business conforms to the highest global standards at all times.
It places a premium on its core business strategy anchored on People, Technology and Service, to create value for its clientele.
Zenith Bank, the first Nigeria bank to adopt technology in its operations, boasts a team of professionals to leverage Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for cutting-edge solutions and products.
It does this through its network of branches and electronic/digital channels.
Building on standout performance
Another standout performance last year was when Zenith Bank emerged the Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance Magazine World’s Best Banks Awards 2020.
The awards, published in the May 2020 edition of the magazine, were based on the performances of banks in their regions and countries from January 1 to December 31, 2019.
Global Finance’s “World’s Best Banks Awards” are recognised among the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the industry.
Winners are chosen in more than 150 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and Western Europe.
Founded in 1987, Global Finance regularly selects top performers among banks and other providers of financial services and the awards are the standard of excellence for the global financial community.
Onyeagwu said: “This award is a clear demonstration of the bank’s market leadership, occasioned by our superior product offerings, best-in-class service and top-of-the-range technology which create value for our teeming customers.”
Zenith Bank distinguishes itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service quality, unique customer experience, and sound financial indices.
The bank sets the pace, raises benchmarks. It leads the banking digital space with several firsts in innovative products, solutions, and alternative channels that ensure the convenience, speed, and safety of transactions.
