Career
He started his banking career as a clerk at Barclays Bank, DCO, now Union Bank in 1973. In 1980 he joined International Merchant Bank (IMB) under the technical agreement of First National Bank of Chicago as a financial analyst and rose to senior manager position in 1987.
He headed corporate finance department of Merchant Bank of Africa, under the technical management of Bank of America from 1987 to 1990. He gained early experience in the use of computer in 1977 when he worked as a part-time computer operator at Baton Rouge Bank and Trust Company, Louisiana. He later changed status from employee –manager to owner – manager as he co-founded Zenith Bank. His assumption of duties as managing director of Zenith Bank Plc in 1990 has transformed the service and product delivery system in the banking industry .”
After opening a branch in Ghana, Jim Ovia opened another branch of Zenith Bank in London. The bank has a strategic alliance with respected US group, J.P. Morgan. The partnership with J.P. Morgan will enhance the development of Nigerian financial market and help to expand the stock exchange.
Under Jim Ovia for the third year running, the bank clinched the Web-Jurist award conducted by the website rating arm of Phillips Consulting. Named Bank of the Year in Nigeria for 2005, by Banker magazine, a subsidiary of the Financial Times of London, named the most security friendly and conscious bank in Nigeria for 2005 and ranked the fourth biggest bank in Nigeria, by the ranking of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN ), Zenith Bank with Mr. Ovia’s knowledge of computer technology became the first bank in Nigeria to introduce the online-real time system, which enables the whole branches to be networked through IT technology.
He is the Chairman of the Nigeria Software Development Initiative (NSDI) and also Chairman, National Information Technology Advisory Committee (NITAC). He is a member of the Governing Council, Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) and also a member of the Honorary International Investor Council.
He is the founder and Chairman of Mankind United to Support Total Education (MUSTE), a philanthropic organization focused on providing scholarship for the less privileged, of which some of the beneficiaries are now qualified Medical Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers etc. Mr.
Ovia is also the founder of the ICT Foundation for Youth Empowerment, which focuses on improving the socio-economic welfare of Nigerian Youths by inspiring and motivating them to embrace Information and Communication Technology . He is a member of the Governing Council of Lagos State University and also a member of the Board of Trustees, Redeemer’s University for Nations, Lagos. He is the proprietor of University of Information and Communication Technology , Agbor, Delta State. He served on the board of American International School, Lagos (2001 – 2003).
He headed various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) at various times including being the first President of the Nigeria Internet Group (2001 – 2003).