Speaking at the occasion, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Dr Adaora Umeoji, whilst expressing her appreciation to the Founder and Chairman, Dr Jim Ovia, for his inspiration and vision in setting up an award-winning and record-breaking brand, explained the thinking behind the bank’s strategic move to Paris.

She said: “The opening of this Paris branch is part of the broad strategy of the Bank to extend its footprints across the major global financial centers and our efforts at following our customers’ businesses. Paris branch opening underpins the need to serve our customers and bolster trade and finance relationships between our customers in France and other countries.

“Zenith Bank’s expansion into France is a very strategic move as Nigeria accounts for 20 percent of France’s trade with Sub-saharan Africa according to the Franco-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) having successfully dominated large parts of Anglophone Africa, we will leverage Zenith Bank’s Paris operations to lead the Francophone market starting from Ivory Coast and Cameroon where we will be establishing subsidiaries very soon.”

The ceremony underscored the bank’s commitment to delivering exceptional financial solutions and fostering economic growth worldwide. Dignitaries at the event include the Governor of Kwara state and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-olu; Governor of Ogun state, Adedapo Abiodun and the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah.

Others are Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu; Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; Chief Executive Officer/Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Nonye Ayeni.