Not ‘Bien Venue’, But ‘Bon Arrivée’ : Access Corp’s Aig Imoukhuede’s Light Hearted Welcome To Zenith Bank In Paris

November 28, 2024 Greg Abolo

The Oasis Reporters

November 27, 2024

The ambience of the occasion during the formal launching of the opening of a Zenith Bank branch in Paris was so light hearted, sweet and friendly on the backdrop of speaking English language in the capital city of the French speaking nation, that the banters put everyone in a buoyant and cheery mood. Those who could speak only French with a smattering of accented English were a delight.

Like a staff of Zenith Bank, Paris, at least going by his colour code of red, the official one that tells you it is Zenith, Nigeria’s leading Tier-1 bank that has maintained the lead for over a decade. He confessed that his English was not top notch.Yet he delightfully spoke it with a decidedly French accent.

With so many highpoints of the event, one of them stood out for me and that was the speech that Dr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede gave. He is a co-founder of Access Corporation. That makes the Nigerian bank (Access Bank Plc) playing on the African pedestal and beyond, a subsidiary of Access Corporation. He was on the Tarmac of speeches and to those avid readers of literature about banking and finance, he’s easily recognizable as a veritable writer.

And by the way, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede
wrote Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa (Rovingheights books)

When he was to give his speech, he spoke in English. But he had probably flown in from English speaking Nigeria. Though in Paris, the element of French had to show some expression.

In welcoming Zenith Bank to Paris, France, he first spoke glowingly about ‘Oga’ Dr. Jim Ovia, the Nostradamus of Nigerian banking, as the GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji introduced the Colossus of banking in Nigeria who integrated ICT into Nigerian banking and the sky became the starting point.

According to Dr. Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede, Oga (Dr) Jim Ovia was on hand to welcome him and Access Bank to London, 15 years prior. Today they are all over Africa and in some destinations abroad.

Fast forward to 15 years after birthing in London, Dr. Imoukhuede was now welcoming Dr. Jim Ovia and Zenith Bank into Paris on behalf of the France – Nigeria Association, he being a leader in the body.

So he is not saying ‘BienVenue‘, but Bon Arriveé’. You are welcome to Paris.

A French government official was giving out some statistics that France is host to about 500 or more foreign banks in the country within the EU. And that is quite a whopping figure. Nigeria has about 4 banks in France.

*GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr Adaora* *Umeoji, OON on the right*

*French Government official welcomes Zenith Bank to Paris.*

Alhaji Aliko Dangote makes his goodwill speech.

*Seated is the visionary founder and Chairman Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Jim Ovia receiving a round of applause.*

Looking at the impressive gathering of dignitaries from Africa’s best known billionaire industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Samad Rabiu as well as a gathering of who is who in business, it’s easy to know the importance of Zenith Bank Plc being in this significant EU nation of France.