Jim Ovia CFR CON is a Nigerian entrepreneur and writer.
He gained renown as the creator of Zenith Bank in 1990, which has since become Nigeria’s most lucrative bank.
Early life and Education 
Jim James Ovia, born in 1951 into the expansive household of Obi Olihe of Agbor-Obi, in what is now Agbor, Delta State, experienced the loss of his father at the age of four. With the assistance of older siblings, they aided their mother and the family. One elder brother financed his early schooling. Ovia relocated to Lagos to reside with this brother and commenced employment as a clerk in a bank. Subsequently, he journeyed to the United States for tertiary and postgraduate studies, acquiring a B.Sc. in Business Administration from Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1977, and an MBA from the University of Louisiana, Monroe, in 1979. Additionally, he is an esteemed graduate of Harvard Business School.
Career
Jim James Ovia, the founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s tier-1 bank and among the most profitable financial institutions in the country, assumed the chairman role in 2010. He has been honored with a Nigerian national honor. Additionally, he established Visafone Communications Limited and holds the chairmanship positions in the Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI) and the National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC). Ovia is also affiliated with the Honorary International Investor Council and the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), serving as the Chairman of Cyberspace Network Limited.
Furthermore, he received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Lagos. Ovia’s contributions extend to governance bodies such as the Governing Council of Lagos State University and the Board of Trustees of Redeemer’s University For Nations. He has also served on the Governing Council of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the board of the American International School, Lagos. Ovia’s commitment to societal welfare is evident through his leadership in various NGOs, including his role as the first President of the Nigeria Internet Group.
He is the founder and Chairman of Mankind United to Support Total Education (MUSTE), a philanthropic organization offering scholarships to the underprivileged. Moreover, he established the Youth Empowerment / ICT Foundation, aimed at enhancing the socioeconomic well-being of Nigerian youths by encouraging them to embrace Information and Communication Technology. In September 2018, Ovia unveiled his book “Africa, Rise and Shine” published with ForbesBooks.
Personal life
He is married to Kay Ovia
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 700 million dollars