Shareholders of Zenith Bank Plc, at the 34th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, approved the proposed final dividend payment of NGN4.00 per share, bringing the total dividend for the 2024 financial year to NGN5.00 per share, with a total value of NGN195.67 billion.
The Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, thanked the shareholders for their unflinching support and commitment, which have been responsible for the bank’s stellar performance over the years. He noted that despite challenges globally in 2024, Zenith Bank was able to leverage the opportunities within the environment of each subsidiary to record a performance that solidly attests to the bank’s resilience as a brand.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, expressed her appreciation to the shareholders for their commitment and support, promising quantum leap in dividends going forward. According to her, “This is the first time that I am addressing the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in my capacity as the first female GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank. I would like to thank you for your confidence and support that has placed me in this position today”. She further said that “Zenith Bank is committed to, not only meeting your expectations, but exceeding them. We are focused on running a very efficient and sustainable institution that is resilient and will ensure that our institution outlives many generations to come”. Talking specifically about dividend, she emphasized that “If you look at our dividends trajectory, payments over the period have always increased and we will continue to maintain this record. We have successfully completed our recapitalization exercise, achieving 160% subscription. Therefore, we are not under any pressure to go back for the second time to raise funds. Zenith Bank has sufficient capital buffer to do business and we will continue to delight our shareholders. We are committed to growing our topline organically while adhering to our strict corporate governance culture.”
Dr. Faruk Umar, President of the Association of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), applauded the Group Managing Director for her efforts in ensuring the growth of the bank’s financial indices. He said, “We are very happy that the bank is paying us N5. Most importantly the GMD/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, has done so well. In the past year, she won the award for the Banker of the Year which is very commendable, and all the bank’s indices have gone up; we are now experiencing trillions in profit against N676 billion the previous year, and the shareholder’s funds, the gross earnings – everything now is in trillions. I think this is very commendable. The bank has won so many awards – no bank in Nigeria has won such qualitative awards like they have. They also surpassed the capitalization threshold of CBN by 160% – this is unprecedented. We are very happy with their performance.”
Speaking on the dividend payout, Alhaji Otunba Mukhtar Mukhtar, Chairman, Trusted Shareholders Association of Nigeria, said “The consistency of Zenith Bank dividend payout has never been matched in Nigeria. Since the inception of this bank, they have kept giving shareholders a consistent dividend payout, and this has made shareholders to be richer, happier, and more excited at the hardwork, performance and commitment of the bank. We are very happy. If you look at the Profit Before Tax (PBT) and the Profit After Tax (PAT), they have been able to cross the N1 trillion threshold. They have given us a Profit Before Tax of N1.3 trillion, which is very commendable. The shareholders, as you have seen at the meeting, have expressed their happiness and joy about this performance. I am grateful to the Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, the Management and the Board for such an outstanding performance.”
Ambassador Dr. Olatunde Okelana, the Balogun Olugbon of Orile- Igbon, Oyo State, also commented on the bank’s dividend payout. In his words, “Zenith Bank investment has been the best for me. I want to believe that whoever has not invested in Zenith Bank has lost. Their dividend policy is very palatable, very beautiful in the banking industry and the lady at the helm of affairs is performing wonderfully well. She is one of the best female CEOs in the banking Industry in Nigeria. I am a capitalist, so I invest where my money can give me beautiful returns. I want to tell you that Zenith Bank has been the best in the capital market and it is the best investment. Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, the Founder & Chairman, is a benefit to mankind, he has done the best by giving us Zenith Bank. 99.9% of my savings is in Zenith Bank, because I have confidence in them and in the Management led by Dame Dr. Adaora. I want to encourage many Nigerians to invest in Zenith Bank so that they too can reap the fruit of their labor as soon as possible. I am very happy to be a shareholder of this bank.
Chief Timothy Adesiyan, President of the Shareholders Solidarity Association of Nigeria, praised the Chairman and Management of Zenith Bank for their consistent delivery of value to shareholders. He noted, “The dividend we received this year of N5 has been a promise which they have given to us at several forums which they have called at different times, and we thank them for not failing us in their promise. I am very proud to be a shareholder of Zenith Bank, and also their customer. The bank is a very reliable bank – if you keep your investments in Zenith Bank, you can go to sleep because there is always somebody there watching your investment for you.”
Zenith Bank Fetes Shareholders With Dividends Payout Of N195.67bn
GTCO Food And Drink Festival Begins Friday
The stage is set for Africa’s most anticipated celebration of food, drink, and culture as Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) announces the 8th edition of the GTCO Food and Drink Festival, scheduled to hold from Friday, May 2nd to Sunday, May 4th, 2025, at GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This year’s festival is themed “A Shared Experience”, highlighting how every meal tells a story—stories of culture, community, and tradition that unite people across generations and geographies. The 2025 edition will feature 204 free retail stalls, showcasing the rich diversity and creativity of our food culture—from traditional Nigerian dishes and regional delicacies to contemporary fusion cuisines, savory bites, refreshing beverages, and gourmet desserts. Attendees can also look forward to a series of masterclasses, where internationally renowned chefs and respected culinary experts will share practical insights, recipes, and techniques spanning a wide range of cuisines and disciplines.
In addition to the food exhibition and masterclasses, visitors will enjoy an expansive street food arena, offering a vibrant selection of popular local delicacies, and a dedicated children’s play area, ensuring a fun, safe, and memorable experience for the entire family.
Speaking on the significance of the festival, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, said: “The GTCO Food and Drink Festival is a celebration of our rich cultural diversity and entrepreneurial spirit. Every meal shared is a reminder of our traditions and the universal language of food that connects us all. Beyond the festivities, the festival reflects our commitment to supporting local enterprise—creating a free business platform where food retailers can connect with consumers, share their unique offerings, and take meaningful steps toward growth and long-term sustainability.”
At the heart of the festival is GTCO’s vision of Promoting Enterprise in support of small businesses, especially indigenous foodpreneurs. It is part of the Group’s broader commitment to creating Great Experiences for customers by offering meaningful opportunities for connection, growth, and shared success.
Admission to the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is free, and everyone is welcome to join in this extraordinary celebration of food, culture, and enterprise.
“As Vice Presidential Candidate, Okowa Was Of No Use To PDP” – Mark
By Gideon Njoku
The exit of a former Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot be described as a tsunami. That is the opinion of a former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Mark Jacob.
Here is why, according to him.
As PDP’s Vice Presidential Candidate, Jacob recalls, Okowa, a sitting Governor then, made no positive impact on the fortunes of the Party. He was unable to deliver Delta State to the PDP. So, reasoned Jacob, what possible impact would his exit from the PDP now have on the Party?
Jacob spoke on Arise TV in reaction to the unprecedented dumping of the PDP by the whole Party structure in Delta State which includes the Governor, Sherrif Oborevwori, Okowa, all Members of the PDP in the National Assembly and State Assembly, all State Executive Council Members, and all Local Government Area Chairmen, their Vice Chairmen and Councillors.
President Bola Tinubu described it as a political tsunami. But Jacob disagrees.
While Jacob admits that no political Party should celebrate the loss of its sitting State Governor, he doubts any negative impact Okowa’s dumping of the Party would have on it.
His words: “Truthfully, there is no political party that will be celebrating the departure of a sitting Governor. So, truth be told, that it is a big one for a sitting Governor to leave a political party. But whether that amounts to an earthquake is something else to discuss because we all know that in the 2023 election, the former Governor of Delta State was the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, and he could not deliver his State to the PDP.
“So, sometimes, these big men have their role, but their level of control politically, and when it comes to elections is something that must be interrogated. As a running mate, if he could not deliver his State, it goes a long way to say what tsunami he can cause by being in APC.
“And, particularly, also, when you look at the State where this is happening, the people of Delta State have consistently displayed electoral capacity to think for themselves, to take decisions that are beneficial to themselves, not necessarily the decisions of stakeholders or Governors or Senators, the people of Delta State must be respected.
“It is possible that the Governor and the former Governor have their interests which may not be the same interest as the interest of the electorate. And this must be put in perspective.
“And, just like I said, the example I gave, he didn’t move the people to vote for him, even when the people had a chance of having a Vice President from their State.
“So, it is questionable whether indeed, having moved to the APC, the people will follow him.”
For the records, when Rotimi Amaechi, the former Governor of Rivers State dumped the PDP for the APC in 2015, the people did not move with him. Not only did Rivers vote PDP in the Presidential Election, Amaechi could not install his successor. PDP’s Candidate, Nyesom Wike, won the Governorship election.
Same scenario, also, played out in Zamfara State when Governor Bello Matawalle ditched the PDP for the APC. He lost his reelection for a second term and the APC did not win the State in the Presidential Election.
Missing The Point On Peter Obi’s US Lecture
By Dr Moses Paul
It is both troubling and disappointing that rather than engaging intellectually with the points Mr Peter Obi raised during his lecture at Johns Hopkins University, some individuals have resorted to name-calling and personal attacks. This behaviour is not only counterproductive but it also undermines the very fabric of democratic dialogue, where facts and ideas should be weighed, debated, and countered with superior facts, not with insults.
Mr. Peter Obi presented statistical comparisons between Nigeria and other nations, highlighting where we stand today in areas such as healthcare, education, economic development, and governance. His intention was not to demarket Nigeria but to present an honest, evidence-based analysis of our current realities and to propose solutions for national advancement.
If you believe Mr Peter Obi’s figures are wrong. The appropriate response is to counter his statistics with better, verifiable data, not to attack his character. The question critics must answer is: What is the alternative to what Mr Peter Obi said? If the statistics he presented are inaccurate, then show us the correct numbers. Provide your own analysis. Bring forth your argument backed with evidence. Resorting to smear campaigns only exposes the intellectual bankruptcy of your position.
To those accusing Mr Peter Obi of demarketing Nigeria: Telling the truth is not demarketing; it is empowering. How can citizens make informed decisions if they are shielded from the reality of their nation’s condition? It is better to tell the people the truth. They will not kill you for it. On the contrary, a well-informed citizenry is a prerequisite for national progress.
We must not forget that Mr. Peter Obi, during his lecture, did not engage in name-calling or cast aspersions against anyone, including President Tinubu. He simply analyzed different countries, presented evidence, and shared actionable solutions on what Nigeria could do better. He made a clear and respectful case for reform, a rare example of issue-based advocacy that our political space desperately needs.
Some argue that since Peter Obi did not build enough hospitals during his tenure, he has no moral right to criticize the healthcare system. However, it is on record that Mr Peter Obi built, from scratch to completion and in record time, the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital.
This line of argument is false. In a democracy, critique is not reserved for the perfect. Even if a leader made mistakes in the past, it does not disqualify them from highlighting present failures and proposing solutions. In fact, it is often those who have governed before and who understand the inner workings of the system, who are best equipped to diagnose its flaws and suggest better pathways forward.
Mr. Peter Obi’s critique was not personal. It was a call for introspection and national rebirth. He didn’t even mention individuals in his analysis; he focused on institutions, systems, and outcomes. That is how responsible leadership and citizenship should function.
Ultimately, this moment demands honesty, courage, and maturity. Nigeria can not afford the luxury of false pride and defensive ignorance. We are not doing the right thing as a nation, and until we face this fact squarely, we can not hope to change our trajectory.
A new Nigeria is POssible!!!
Dr Paul writes from Abuja
Edo: PDP Charges Gov Okpebholo To Make Public Findings On Suspended Officials
By Ayodele Oni
The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Edo State has accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of embarking on suspensions of state officials since assumption of office for offences which borders on corruption, while the governor has failed to make public findings on the affected officials.
First to get suspended by the governor was the state attorney general, Samson Osage who was accused of corruption but was later recalled after being cleared of the allegation.
The latest victim is Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Caulson Osoikhia Oahimire.
His suspension was announced in a two-paragraph statement Tuesday morning, by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor.
The statement noted that Oahimire was suspended over allegations of grave financial and official infractions.
“It is hereby announced for the information of the General Public that the Executive Govemor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo has ordered the immediate suspension of the Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Caulson Osoikhia Oahimire, over allegations of grave financial and official infractions.
“Consequently, the most senior staff of the Agency will act in a functioning capacity pending the outcome of a special committee to be constituted by Government to investigate the various allegations and submit a report to the Governor.”
Reacting through a statement by the Publicity Secretary of its Caretaker Committee, Chris Nehikhare, the PDP said that since his assumption of office, Governor Okpebholo “has embarked on an unrelenting spree of suspensions, throwing one official after another under the bus—often amid sensational accusations of corruption and misconduct.
“Yet, in all this noise, Edo people have seen no credible investigations, no legal conclusions, no public accountability—only whispers of quiet reinstatements through the backdoor.
“From his own Commissioner for Justice and Chief Law Officer, Samson Osagie, to the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Damian Lawani; the Head of the Public Safety Response Team, Kelly Okungbowa; the Commander of the State Security Corps, Friday Ibadin; the CEO of FEWMA, Ahmed Momoh; and now Dr. Oahimire—the list reads like a script from a badly managed soap opera.
“What we are witnessing is not governance—it is chaos masquerading as reform.
“Edo people are left asking: Is this simply a case of a workman constantly quarrelling with his tools? Or did Okpebholo knowingly assemble a team riddled with questionable characters—people who see public office not as a platform for service, but as a shortcut to self-enrichment?
“What is clear is that this endless cycle of suspensions has laid bare a troubling reality: either the Governor is completely out of his depth and incapable of managing his own appointees, or he is overseeing an administration deeply compromised by rot, failure, and corruption.”
Rivers: Eight NBA Branches Defend Chairman Over Allegation Of Misconduct
By Ayodele Oni
Rivers State Government has accused the Chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of misconduct for being a signatory to a communiqué which criticised the State Government.
Already, the eight branches of the NBA in the State have rejected a query issued to the Chairman, Cordelia Eke, by the Sole Administrator of the state through the Ministry of Justice.
The query, dated April 25 and signed by Ebiriemg Deresima, Director of Administration at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, accused Eke of “serious misconduct” for co-signing a communique that criticized the State Government.
The query also claimed that such actions violated Public Service Rules and were deemed inappropriate for a civil servant
The communiqué had described as “severe and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity,” the alleged dismantling of democratic structures and suppression of peaceful protests.
In response, the chairmen of the Rivers NBA branches issued a joint press release on denouncing the query as an attempt to intimidate Eke and other legal professionals in the state.
The NBA leadership clarified that the communique in question was not issued by Eke in her capacity as a public servant, but rather as the elected Chairperson of the Port Harcourt Branch of the NBA, a position that allows her to express the collective views of the branch.
It further emphasized that the communique, dated April 9, was the result of formal NBA discussions and reflected the collective stance of all NBA branches in Rivers State.
The Chairmen noted that this position aligned with that of the NBA at the national level, as expressed by the Association’s President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
The Chairmen described the query as part of a broader effort by the Sole Administrator to silence dissenting voices and undermine democratic principles under the guise of promoting peace.
They viewed the query as an attempt to intimidate Eke into abandoning her role as Chairman of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch and to deter lawyers and the people of Rivers State from standing up against executive overreach and impunity.
Soldier To Die By Hanging For Killing Girlfriend
By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Private Adamu Mohammed, a soldier attached to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, is to die by hanging for snuffing life out of his girlfriend.
Similarly, his colleague, Abubakar Yusuf, is to spend the next ten years behind bars for his involvement in robbery activities.
A statement from the Division’s spokesperson, Lt C Jonah Unuakhalu, on Tuesday April 29, 2025, informed that both soldiers were found guilty by a General Court Marshall GCM established by the Division.
The General Officer Commanding, GOC, Oluyemi Olatoye, a Major General, had on February 18, 2025, set up the GCM to look into cases involving erring service men of the 82 Division, Enugu, whose offences could be disposed of summarily.
Delivering judgment, the President of the Panel, Sadisu Buhari, a Brigadier General, noted that Private Mohammed was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali.
According to him, the offence is punishable under Section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 LFN 2004 .
The Verdict which the President said was unanimous among Panel members, was arrived at after a careful examination of facts before the GCM, including the career and service record of the soldier.
In the same vein, General Buhari, informed that the GCM in arriving at its ruling also considered the plea for leniency by the accused and his legal representatives.
However, the GCM noted that the interest of justice for the deceased as well as the need to maintain societal decorum far outweighed any other consideration.
“Given this, the GCM has determined that the accused soldier 21NA/80/6365 Private Adamu Mohammed is hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of murder”, the panel ruled.
On the other hand, the GCM, found Private Yusuf guilty of a robbery incident at a Mall in Enugu, noting that the offence contravenedG Section 107(1) (b) of the Armed Forces Act ,Cap A20 LFN 2004.
“Although ,the court attentively considered the plea for mitigation presented by the accused and his Counsel,the law was applied to uphold societal decorum and protect the reputation of the Army.
However, due to the inability of the GCM to reach a unanimous decision required to impose the maximum mandatory punishment, prescribed under Section 107(2) of the Armed Forces Act ,Cap A20 LFN 2004 ,the GCM relying on the provisions of Section 140 (3) of the Armed Forces Act, hereby sentences the accused soldier 23NA/85/12116,Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years imprisonment”, the GCM President.
The GCM noted that the sentences for both soldiers remain subject to the confirmation of relevant authorities within the System.
This is just as the Nigeria Army reaffirmed its determination and unwavering commitment towards upholding the highest ethical and professional standards among its officers and men.
Edo: Okpebholo Fumes As Renewed Cult Clash Causes Tension, Death
By Ayodele Oni
Following the latest clash between two rival cult groups, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has ordered security agencies to move decisively to curtail criminal activities in the State.
This was made public on Tuesday via a statement by Bugie Okhuemoi, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Governor.
The statement reads: “The Edo State Government is deeply concerned about the resurgence of cult-related violence in some parts of the state.
“It is important to recall that following earlier disturbances last year, Governor Monday Okpebholo, among several proactive steps taken, convened personally and through his agents series of critical meetings with the known leaders of groups suspected to be involved in these criminal activities.
“At those meetings, firm agreements were reached: they were to rein in their members and take full responsibility for their conduct. The Governor made it abundantly clear that the State would no longer tolerate the senseless killing of our youth and the destabilization of our communities.
“Regrettably, recent developments indicate that some individuals and groups have chosen to defy that understanding. Governor Okpebholo has therefore directed security agencies to move in decisively.
“Those who have tested the will of the State will face the full weight of the Edo State Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Law. There will be no sacred cows.
“This administration remains unshaken in its commitment to rid Edo State of cultism, criminality, and all threats to peace and order. We urge all law-abiding residents to remain calm and continue with their daily activities. The security agencies are fully mobilized and working around the clock to restore and maintain peace.
“The Okpebholo administration is determined to build a safe, stable, and prosperous Edo State — and no amount of intimidation or criminal defiance will stand in the way of that goal.”
Report revealed that two rival cult groups, Aye and Maphite Confraternities, reignited their battle for dominance, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people in Benin.
This resurgence of violence occurs just three months after Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, signed the Secret Cult Prohibition Bill into law, which imposes a 21-year prison sentence on cult members and their sponsors.
The renewed cult war reportedly began on Friday, with the killing of a physiotherapist named Alex and another person near the back gate of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Ugbowo, Benin.
In what appeared to be a retaliatory attack on the same Friday, two suspected cult members were reportedly shot at a well-known restaurant on Sapele Road in Benin by unidentified gunmen, triggering a wave of cult-related killings across the city.
Other reported incidents include the killing of an alleged cultist on Upper Forestry Road, and the deaths of two people at 2nd East Circular and Upper Sokponba Road by the bypass on Saturday.
I’m Not Afraid Of EFCC Probe – Okowa
By Ayodele Oni
A day after he was formally received into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa, has declared his readiness to face probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).
Okowa, former Governor of Delta State and the PDP co- flag bearer in the 2023 general elections, along with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and others were received on Monday by the leadership of APC at a colourful ceremony in Asaba.
Answering questions on Tuesday, on Arise Television, Okowa, said he has done no wrong, and, therefore, has no reason to be afraid of the EFCC and its probe.
He dismissed insinuations that his defection was the outcome of his dialogue with Senator Adams Oshiomhole who had reportedly told him to defect as a guarantee against EFCC probe.
According to him, he has not discussed or met Adam Oshiomhole on defection, until yesterday at the defection ground where both hugged each other.
“There is no sin to be forgiven because no sin was committed.”
He denied ever being arrested by the commission, saying while it was the right of the commission to probe him, he committed no crime to warrant him being afraid.
Okowa explained that the Commission’s invitation was extended to him while he was abroad and that he promptly reported when he returned to Nigeria.
Besides, he maintained that he served Deltans well and that although his development strides are worthy and well acknowledged, he could not accomplish all that he could because, being in the political opposition had a way of affecting access to the goodwill of the resource- laden Federal Government.
BREAKING: EFCC Arrests Socialite, E-Money, For Abusing The Naira
By Akinwale Kasali
Anti Graft Agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested Lagos socialite, Emeka Okonkwo Daniel, popular as E-Money, for allegedly abusing the Naira.
E-Money was arrested by operatives of the commission in Lagos.
The Socialite who is the Chief Executive Officer of Emmy Cargoes Nigeria Limited and Five Star Music, is the brother of popular Musician, K-Cee.
According to the EFCC, he is being investigated for allegedly spraying both Naira and US Dollars at a party in Lagos in violation of Nigeria’s currency Law.
Details Later……