Jim Ovia tells how he started Zenith bank with only N20m in his new book, Africa Arise and Shine

The book captures a personal account of Ovia’s life and how he established Zenith Bank Plc. In a brief presentation, the author explained that the narrative of Africa as a pathetic and dark continent inspired the title of the book.

Jim Ovia narrated how he started the business with N20 million ($4 million) at an exchange rate of N5 to a dollars with a present total asset base of $16 billion.

The governor of the central bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, described the book as a compelling one.

The event was well attended by dignitaries including the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the governor of Lagos state, Akinwumni Ambode, and billionaire businesswoman, Folorunsho Alakija.