Great things are happening to great people, especially those that have positioned themselves beside the corporate gusher. Jim Ovia, founder of Zenith Bank Plc and world-acclaimed banking genius, has started to rake in the benefits of his stake in Zenith Bank. Currently wearing the crown as Nigeria’s number-one banker in terms of affluence, Ovia brings credit to the ideal of diligence accompanying passion to bring fortune.

This new year, Ovia has started turning the heads of his colleagues with increasing frequency. According to financial reports, his Zenith Bank shares have been buffed up in value following the rise in stock value. Even as the bank’s shares and market capitalization reach a new height, Ovia’s fortune from these shares has also experienced a deepening, rendering the Agbor man the wealthiest Nigerian banker at present.

Based on the reports from several notable finance-related media, Zenith Bank’s market capitalization has crossed $1.5 billion. This is one of the direct consequences of the bank’s shares rising from N38.65 to N44, around a 13 percent increase. With this demonstrating rising confidence from the investor and shareholder community, Ovia is one of those to have benefited the most.

Before the change, Ovia had around 5 billion ordinary shares in total, interpreted as 16.2 percent of the bank’s total shares. Although these shares did not increase in quantity, the bump up in individual value changes their gross worth. Therefore, with each share at N44, Ovia’s total shares are valued at more than N220 billion or over $240 million.

Without a question, Ovia’s pace of financial increase will lead to questions from his peers and others in the same corporate corridor of banking. But the secret is open to all: be visionary enough to establish a bank like Zenith Bank; then make it distinctive by not compromising standards. This is how to become Ovia, the wealthiest Nigerian banker at present.