Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as NELFUND chairman

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Jim Ovia as the chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ovia, a renowned banker and businessman, is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School and holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.

The presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement noted that the National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.

He said NELFUND, the implementing institution of this innovation, demanded excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional to guide and manage it.

“The president believes that Mr Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds.

“He is also ensuring that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of the society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century,” he said.

Jim Ovia is the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, one of Africa’s largest banks with over $21.4 billion in assets and shareholders’ funds of over US$2.4 billion as at December 2023.

Zenith Bank is a global brand listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In addition to major operations in Nigeria and other West African countries, the bank has sizeable operations in London and Dubai