Zenith Bank CEO Urge Nigerians To Imbibe  Message, Spirit Of Christmas, As The Leading Financial Institution Lights Up Ajose -Adeogun Round About  In A Spectacular Scenery

The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer , CEO, of  Zenith Bank PLC,  Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, last Saturday enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the message and spirit of Christmas.                      

According to him, Christmas is about peace, love,forgiveness and above all respect for humanity . 

 He was speaking at the 16th edition of the official Lighting ceremony with the theme “Let there Be Light” held at Ajose -Adeogun Street Round About, Victoria Island, Lagos.                                                             

flanked by the wife of the founder and Chairman, Zenith Bank PLC, Mrs Kay Ovia and supported by the Executive Management , the event was witnessed by many of the bank’s staff and customers, with others joining virtually.                                                                                                                                              

Indeed, It was a great spectacle to behold as the Christmas and Yuletide season came to life at the 2022 Zenith Bank Christmas Light-Up Ceremony.

The annual Light-Up event is part of Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative by the bank to herald the yuletide season through the beautification of Ajose Adeogun Street , which is home to Zenith Bank’s Corporate Headquarters.

Since inception, residents and visitors alike, have come to  recognize  the site as an iconic place, attracting people from all walks of life who visit with their families and friends to take pictures and make videos of the wonderful spectacle, especially at night and enjoy the ambience of the street and season.

Speaking, the elated Bank Chief  expressed his delight in heralding the yuletide season of 2022 through the iconic Ajose Adeogun Street lighting up.

“He said: “today is a unique day. Unique in the sense that we are going to turn on the Christmas light and activate the spirit of Christmas, which we usually have annually.

“It is also unique in the sense that we are honoured and delighted to have in our midst the wife of our Founder and Chairman, Mrs Kay Ovia.”

Onyeagwu commended Quantum Markets, the company responsible for the annual decorations, for the outstanding, creative and extremely beautiful work that they have done.

He said :  “when you look at the Christmas set-up we have every year, it looks completely different, and there is no repetition of themes.

“And when we think we have seen it all, by the time a new one comes, it is something completely different and massively support.                                                           

 “The one for this year, as I entered here, I was wondering if this is a theme park,” he said

The CEO prayed for peace in every home, business and in the country , expressing confidence  that this year’s celebration would be like no other that we have seen.                                                         

Zenith  Bank is known to have clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry as an institution committed to building a more sustainable and inclusive economy and promoting responsible business practices in Nigeria through integrating sustainability principles in its business operations.

The bank’s sustainability and CSR initiatives are hinged on the belief that today’s business performance is not all about the financial numbers – the bank believes that an institution’s social investments, contributions to inclusive economic growth and development as well as improvements in the condition of the physical environment, all constitute a balanced scorecard.

Through its CSR initiatives, Zenith Bank has embodied the overarching objective of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, which provide a framework for addressing the major challenges confronting society. Its social investments are targeted at health, education, women and youth empowerment, sports development and public infrastructure enhancement. Overall, Zenith Bank’s total CSR investment in 2021 was NGN4.37 billion, representing 1.79% of its Profit After Tax, PAT, and 33.1% increase from 2020

It has remained committed to furthering the economic, cultural and social development of host communities, particularly through community-based initiatives and philanthropy.                                                                                                                                                                         

As a good corporate citizen, it continues to deliver projects that have long-term social and economic benefits for the communities because it believes that its business is only as strong as the communities in which it operates.

To demonstrate its commitment to creating and expanding opportunities, the bank regularly makes donations towards setting up ultramodern ICT centres in several educational institutions and cities across the country.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

It also supports various developmental projects, and healthcare delivery causes in Nigeria and contributes to the development of sports in Nigeria through its sponsorship of the Zenith Women Basketball League and the Zenith Bank Delta State Principal’s and Headmaster’s Football Competitions, amongst others.

In recognition of its contributions and social investments to its host communities and the society at large, the bank was recognised at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility, SERAS, Awards 2021 as the “Most Responsible Organisation in Africa”.