Nigerian banking icon Jim Ovia has seen his Zenith Bank stake rise by $18.5 million in early 2026, reflecting renewed investor confidence in one of Nigeria’s top lenders.
Ovia owns 5.08 billion shares, a 16.2 percent stake in the bank he founded over 30 years ago. Zenith Bank’s shares have climbed 8.4 percent this year, boosting the market value of his holding from $220 million to $238.5 million.
The surge comes amid investors’ return to large, dividend-paying banks as Nigeria navigates currency reforms and inflation pressures.
Strong earnings, conservative lending, and disciplined cost management have positioned Zenith Bank as a reliable performer, with gross earnings up 16.3 percent to $2.36 billion for the nine months ended September 2025.