JUST IN: Zenith Bank to pay founder Jim Ovia ~₦5.18bn interim dividend!
Reported by David Joshua | Sele Media Africa
Lagos, Nigeria — Zenith Bank Plc’s board has approved an interim dividend of ₦1.25 per ordinary share for the first half of 2025, a 25% increase from the ₦1.00 paid in the same period last year. As a result, the bank’s founder and chairman, Jim Ovia, who directly holds 4.14 billion Zenith shares, is set to receive about ₦5.18 billion from the interim payout.
Key details
Interim dividend: ₦1.25 per share (approved by the Board).
Jim Ovia’s direct holding used to calculate payout: 4.14 billion shares → ~₦5.18 billion entitlement.
Half-year performance that underpinned the payout: Zenith reported a strong H1 2025, including profit before tax of ≈₦625.63 billion and gross earnings of ≈₦2.5 trillion, figures the bank said supported the dividend decision.
Market timing / corporate action notices: The corporate action information and interim dividend details have been posted on market/corporate platforms ahead of the pay date.
Why it matters
Zenith Bank’s decision to raise the interim dividend signals confidence in its balance sheet and ongoing profitability amid a recovering banking sector. For long-term shareholders like Jim Ovia, the larger interim payout reflects both his substantial direct stake and the bank’s policy of returning profits to shareholders
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