Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Kennedy Onuwa Okwudili as an Executive Director, effective May 1, 2026, as part of its leadership succession strategy aimed at strengthening executive management.
The appointment was disclosed in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange and signed by the bank’s Company Secretary, Michael Otu.
According to the statement, the move underscores Zenith Bank’s commitment to grooming internal talent for leadership roles within the organisation.
Okwudili brings over 25 years of experience spanning credit and marketing, treasury, compliance, and operations within the bank.
A seasoned banking professional, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri, an MBA from Ahmadu Bello University, and a Master of Science in Accounting from Veritas University Abuja.
He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. In addition, he has participated in executive programmes at the Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School, and Saïd Business School University of Oxford.
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Okwudili currently serves as President of the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria.
The leadership appointment comes as Zenith Bank continues to post strong financial results. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the bank recorded a pre-tax profit of N917.4 billion, driven by significant growth in interest income and non-interest revenue streams.
Interest income rose by 40.8 per cent to N2.74 trillion, supported by higher earnings from loans and investment securities. Interest on loans and advances contributed N1.3 trillion, while investment securities—including treasury bills—accounted for N740.5 billion.
Non-interest income also saw steady growth, with fees and commissions increasing by 10.45 per cent to N299 billion. Key contributors included account maintenance fees of N64 billion and electronic banking fees of N59 billion.
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Zenith Bank’s balance sheet remained robust, with total assets rising to N31.18 trillion, reflecting increases in cash holdings, loans, and investment securities.
The bank’s performance has also been mirrored in the capital market. Shares of Zenith Bank have surged by more than 73 per cent year-to-date in 2026, crossing the N100 mark for the first time in March and trading at N107.5 as of March 24, 2026.
The lender is yet to release its audited full-year 2025 financial results, which are expected to reflect the strong momentum recorded during the nine-month reporting period.