Zenith Bank Plc has taken a significant step towards enhancing human capital development in the finance and investment sector by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute.
The signing ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, involved key figures from both organizations, including the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu; the President/CEO of the CFA Institute, Margaret Franklin; and the President of CFA Society Nigeria, Ibukun Oyedeji.
During the MoU signing ceremony, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu commended the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Nigeria for their outstanding programs aimed at developing finance and investment professionals in Nigeria. He expressed Zenith Bank’s commitment to sustaining its partnership with the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Nigeria to provide continuous support for the career development of young finance and investment professionals. Dr. Onyeagwu stated:
“As a good corporate citizen, Zenith Bank remains committed to furthering the economic, cultural, and social development of society. Partnering with the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Nigeria is, therefore, a demonstration of our commitment to building professional excellence in the finance services industry in Nigeria.”
At the CFA Institute Africa Investment Conference, Dr. Onyeagwu addressed future finance and investment professionals during the ‘Journey to the Top: A Discourse with CEOs’ segment. He inspired them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, make quality decisions, build robust networks, and dedicate themselves to hard work for career success. Dr. Onyeagwu encouraged aspiring professionals, saying:
“As upcoming professionals, the opportunities are immense for you. Africa doesn’t get bigger than Nigeria. Make a decision to be one of those, make a decision to be different. You must be driven by your passion; you must delay gratification. In Zenith, what is driving us is the strive for excellence. It is not about who you are and where you come from.”
He further assured young finance and investment professionals that Zenith Bank would provide immediate employment opportunities to CFA Charter Holders and those who qualify as Chartered Accountants.
Margaret Franklin, the President/CEO of the CFA Institute, reiterated the institute’s commitment to the professional development of students and upcoming professionals, stating:
“There are many things that we do for students, we invest heavily in students and why is that? Because they are our future. The mission of the CFA Institute is to lead the investment industry with the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society and that starts with our CFA programme”
Franklin commended Zenith Bank for its continuous support to the CFA Society Nigeria and sponsorship of the CFA Institute Research Challenge over the years. She also praised the bank for being one of the top employers of CFA members in the country and acknowledged the culture of excellence at Zenith Bank.
President of CFA Society Nigeria, Ibukun Oyedeji, expressed commendation for Zenith Bank’s partnership with CFA Society Nigeria and its dedication to the development of young finance professionals in the country.
The CFA Institute Africa Investment Conference, hosted by the CFA Institute and CFA Societies from various African regions, gathered representatives from over 20 universities in Nigeria. These universities, members of their investment clubs supported by CFA Society, actively participated in the conference, contributing to the collaborative efforts to advance finance and investment expertise in the country.
