Zenith Bank Plc has restated its commitment to driving Africa’s digital transformation as Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, the bank’s group managing director/CEO, declared that the world has entered a new era where innovation has become the “final lifeline” for businesses.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Zenith Bank Tech Fair 2025 – Future Forward 5.0, Umeoji said technology is reshaping every sector, from banking and healthcare to mobility, education and everyday life, at a pace “faster than humanity has ever experienced.”
Umeoji attributed Zenith Bank’s own evolution to the vision of its founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, whom she described as “an innovator extraordinaire, a game changer and the godfather of modern banking.”
She highlighted his early investments in banking technology, such as deploying satellite dishes for real-time connectivity in the 1990s, pioneering Internet banking as early as 2004, and establishing the first ATM gallery in Nigeria.
“These milestones positioned Zenith Bank as Nigeria’s technology trailblazer long before digital banking became mainstream,” she said.
The CEO warned of emerging risks alongside opportunities, citing her own experience with a recent deepfake impersonation.
She also referenced a global case where cybercriminals used AI voice-cloning to steal $25 million from a Hong Kong firm.
“AI is powerful, but also dangerous. We must build cyber-awareness, protect our personal data and develop innovations that secure, not endanger, our future,” she said.
“Technology is the future, and the time to innovate, adapt and accelerate is now,” she said.
