Jim

Jim Ovia, Nigeria’s Banking Godfather, Retires

Jim Ovia steps down as Zenith Bank chairman after 36 years, passing the torch to CEO Adaora Umeoji.

When Jim Ovia founded Zenith Bank in July 1990 at age 38, with NGN 20 million (then about $2.5 million) in capital, Nigeria already had a rich history of indigenous banking institutions. National Bank of Nigeria (1933), African Continental Bank (1937), and Agbonmagbe Bank (1945), later renamed Wema Bank, were among the major banks. 

In May, nearly 36 years after Zenith’s founding, Ovia retired as chairman after completing the maximum 12-year tenure permitted under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) corporate governance code. Known as the godfather of Nigerian banking, Ovia leaves Zenith as Nigeria’s most valuable listed bank, with more than NGN 30 trillion (about $19.5 billion) in assets and NGN 1 trillion in after-tax profit in 2025.

Zenith was among the institutions that emerged stronger from Nigeria’s landmark 2004–05 banking consolidation, during which the CBN raised minimum capital requirements from NGN 2 billion to NGN 25 billion, reducing the number of the nation’s commercial banks from 89 to 25. 

Building an African Banking Empire

The lender has since expanded beyond Nigeria, with subsidiaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Gambia; branches in London, Paris, and Dubai; a representative office in China; and a growing East African presence following the acquisition of Paramount Bank Kenya. Last year, Zenith became the first Nigerian lender to exceed NGN 5 trillion in market capitalization.

Prominent Nigerian banking executive in formal suit and glasses.
Nigerian banking industry leader retiring, symbolizing leadership transition in finance sector.

The leadership transition follows years of internal succession planning. Adaora Umeoji, who joined Zenith in 1998, became the bank’s first female group managing director and CEO in 2024, after a 28-year career at the institution. Under her leadership, Zenith completed an NGN 350.46 billion capital raise, 160% subscribed, comfortably exceeding Nigeria’s new regulatory capital requirements while maintaining record profitability.

Ovia strengthened his financial commitment before stepping down as chairman. In December, five months before retiring, he acquired an additional NGN 14.8 billion in Zenith Bank shares, increasing his holding to 16.2% and cementing his position as the bank’s largest individual shareholder.

Ovia’s leadership laid “the foundation for what has become one of Africa’s most respected and globally recognized financial institutions,” according to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. Shareholder advocate Boniface Okezie, national coordinator of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, terms Zenith “one of the strongest banks in the country because of the solid foundation [Ovia] laid,” and expresses confidence that the lender’s governance framework will remain strong without its founder.

Charles Wachira is a contributing writer based in Kenya.

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Chad Tracy’s record Red Sox win streak mirrors dad Jim’s Rockies run

Winning streaks bring a life of their own to a clubhouse, each day presenting another opportunity to extend the joy and methodically build a feeling of invincibility.

Inevitably the streak ends and everyone sighs, reflects and returns to work. The Boston Red Sox lost the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday to end a win streak that tied an 80-year-old club record when it reached 15 in the opener.

Boston interim manager Chad Tracy stepped into the clubhouse to say a few words afterward but saw veteran players Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray speaking to the team and allowed them the moment.

“We just won 15 games in a row, and I think all of us knew it was going to end at some point,” Tracy said.

Call it the “Tracy Turnaround” redux.

Tracy had never managed, coached or played at the major league level before replacing Alex Cora on April 25, but he was well-versed in experiencing the glorious ride of a winning streak and its abrupt end. His father, Jim Tracy, managed the Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies from 2001-2012.

Like his son, Jim Tracy was given an interim manager title when he replaced Clint Hurdle in May 2009 after Colorado’s poor start. It took only a few weeks before the Rockies won 11 games in a row, 17 of 18 and finished 74-42 to make the playoffs.

This year’s Red Sox can only hope their U-turn under Chad Tracy mirrors his dad’s. Boston was 32-46 before winning 20 of 23, including the 15-game win streak.

No surprise that father and son discussed the similarities. Chad was a double-A first baseman with the Texas Rangers in 2009 and closely followed his dad’s fortunes.

“I remember the [Rockies’] run,” Chad said. “You know, we talk very basically about just, he’s excited [about the Red Sox]. He’s a baseball fan. He’s watching constantly, and he’s fired up for it. So, like, we haven’t done a whole lot of comparing to that, but he’s just — he’s a Boston Red Sox fan.”

Jim was rewarded by becoming the second interim manager in MLB history to win the Manager of the Year award. Chad could be in the running to be the third, especially if the Red Sox make the playoffs.

They already are only the sixth father-son combo to manage in the major leagues, following Bob and Aaron Boone, George and Dick Sisler, Bob and Joel Skinner, Buddy and David Bell, and Felipe Alou and Luis Rojas.

The achievement isn’t lost on Jim Tracy, who became so emotional upon learning his son was named interim Red Sox manager he pulled his car to the side of the road. He attended Chad’s first game, a victory over the Baltimore Orioles, on the top step of the dugout.

“One thing that jumped out at me,” Jim Tracy said, “was that when he was presented to the media, his body language in the dugout…. he was not overwhelmed or fazed with anything that was going on. He was ready to do whatever was asked of him.”

That Chad replaced Cora, who led the Red Sox to the 2018 World Series title in his first season, elicited mixed feelings. Cora played with the Dodgers from 1998-2004, including four seasons under Jim.

“It’s a wonderful day, but in some respects, it’s bittersweet,” Jim said the day of Chad’s managerial debut. “I’m proud of [Chad], but the Tracy family loves and respects Alex Cora.

“You have to go back with some special years I had in Los Angeles and Alex was very much a part of that. Bittersweet is the right word because Alex was so good to my son and took such good care of him. But it was reciprocated.”

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Moment sozzled Jim Davidson, 72, is helped up by drinking buddies after collapsing outside pub following all day session

COMEDIAN Jim Davidson admitted “I found out what legless means” after collapsing outside a pub and being helped up by drinking buddies.

The star downed two ­bottles of wine, tequila, vodka, six pints of ­Guinness and two whiskies on an all-day session, saying: “I think it must have been that last scotch that did it.”

Jim Davidson admitted ‘I found out what legless means’ after collapsing outside a pub and being helped up by drinking buddies
Jim downed two ­bottles of wine, tequila, vodka, six pints of ­Guinness and two whiskies on an all-day session, saying: ‘I think it must have been that last scotch that did it’ Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Ex-Big Break and Generation Game host Jim, 72, had sailed to the Isle of Wight on his £350,000 yacht Lady Natasha — named after his fiancée.

The pair dined at The Hut in Colwell Bay before Natasha, 49, called it a night and Jim ­carried on drinking with some yachtsmen.

He said: “It was boys stuff. I found out what the term legless means.

“My quote is ‘must take more water with it’.

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“We had a smashing meal at The Hut, which is the best ­restaurant in the country, then I decided to go on the p***.

“It was a bit of a harmless fun, no one died.”

Jim, who has five ex-wives, detailed his mammoth booze-up, which ended with him collapsing outside Salty’s pub in Yarmouth.

He said: “Most people leave Salty’s like that. First I had a couple of bottles of wine that made me a bit dizzy.

Jim, who has five ex-wives, detailed his mammoth booze-up, which ended with him collapsing outside Salty’s pub in Yarmouth Credit: Alamy
Jim admitted being a binge drinker and said: ‘I can do that when I’m not working. I can’t when I’m working’ Credit: AFP

“I thought I better have some tequila to sober me up. After the tequilas made me feel worse, I thought vodka will kill the tequila.

“And after that six pints of Guinness. I thought well I need a wee, I’ll go into this pub and use their toilet and while I’m here I’ll have a couple of scotches.

“I think it must have been that last scotch that did it.”

Jim admitted being a binge drinker and said: “I can do that when I’m not working. I can’t when I’m working.

“Today I’ve got to drive five hours to Blackpool, do a show in the club and then five hours back tomorrow. This is the reality of showbiz. Then back to the studio to film my weekly satire show.

“When you’ve got a picture of me coming off stage in a theatre like that, then I’m in trouble.”

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Seth Doane and Jim Axelrod among contenders for ’60 Minutes’ roles

With the 2026-27 season premiere of “60 Minutes” just two months away, CBS News leadership is getting closer to deciding who will fill the recent departures of longtime correspondents Scott Pelley, Sharon Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega and Anderson Cooper.

Seth Doane, a longtime correspondent based in Italy who is often seen on “CBS Sunday Morning,” is under consideration, along with chief investigative correspondent Jim Axelrod, who currently has a lead role in the “Eye On America” series featured on the “CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil.”

Trevor Phillips, a British journalist and former politician who recently joined CBS News as senior global affairs correspondent, is expected to have a role on the program, according to people briefed on the plan. Phillips had a long career in the U.K., producing and writing documentaries and most recently hosted the Sky News program “Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.”

Phillips received a knighthood in 2022 for his service to equality and human rights for the U.K. But he also generated controversy over his career for comments about the British Muslim community, which led to a yearlong suspension from the Labor Party in 2020.

A CBS News representative declined comment beyond saying the division is looking at a number of internal and external candidates.

Dokoupil is expected to deliver four “60 Minutes” pieces a season. Major Garrett, the network’s chief Washington correspondent, will also have a contributor role.

Matt Gutman, hired from ABC News last year as national correspondent, is under strong consideration. He is being put in front of test audiences, according to several people at the network.

Holly Williams, a foreign correspondent working out of Istanbul for CBS News since 2012, and Mariana van Zeller, a journalist for National Geographic Channel, are both said to remain in contention.

The newcomers will join Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim and Norah O’Donnell, who are all returning as correspondents. O’Donnell will also continue in her role as senior correspondent for the network, occasionally anchoring specials.

The rebuild of the talent lineup comes after the upheaval at the program that has occurred since Bari Weiss joined CBS News as editor in chief in October.

Pelley was fired last month after confronting management about the May 28 dismissal of his colleagues Alfonsi and Vega along with the program’s executive producer Tanya Simon and her second-in-command Draggan Mihailovich.

In February, Cooper decided not to sign a new deal as a “60 Minutes” contributor, as the CNN anchor cited a desire to spend more time with his family. But Cooper has reportedly told colleagues that he does not want to work for Weiss.

The internal disruption at “60 Minutes” followed a highly successful season. In its 57th season, “60 Minutes” was the most watched news program on television with an average of 9.1 million viewers a week, according to Nielsen data. The program bucked the overall decline in traditional TV viewing by growing 9% over the previous season.

After the dismissal of his “60 Minutes” colleagues, Pelley accused Weiss of trying to “murder” the program and claimed she was putting “her thumb on the scale” for more favorable coverage of the Trump administration. He was fired with cause after confronting management at a June 1 meeting.

Weiss came to CBS when parent company Paramount acquired her digital website The Free Press, known for its criticism of progressive policies and its strong support of Israel.

Weiss was hired by Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison with a mandate to move the news division to the political center. The pronouncement has created the perception that CBS News is looking to placate the Trump administration as Paramount sought regulatory approval for its $111-billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which will also give the company ownership of CNN.

The noise surrounding Weiss has hurt CBS News despite strong reporting that is often far from being pro-MAGA. This past weekend’s “CBS Sunday Morning” featured a segment from national security correspondent David Martin about the Department of Defense interfering with the editorial independence of Stars & Stripes, the military newspaper.

Trump complained vehemently about his last interview with O’Donnell on “60 Minutes,” — conducted the day after a gunman tried to enter the White House Correspondents Assn. dinner in Washington on April 25.

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Emmy-winning actor reveals difficult Hollywood stars including ‘tough’ Jim Carrey, saying ‘they make life miserable’

EMMY award-winning actor William H. Macy has revealed the most difficult Hollywood stars, according to him.

The star, 76, has been acting for four and a half decades and has worked with the who’s who of Hollywood in his time.

William H. Macy has revealed the most difficult Hollywood stars in his opinion Credit: SXSW Conference & Festivals via
He shared his thoughts on the We Might Be Drunk podcast Credit: WE MIGHT BE DRUNK POD

He appeared on the We Might Be Drunk podcast with hosts Mark Normand and Sam Morril as they attempted to get some gossip out of him.

Mark asked: “We gotta ask, which actors do you really hate?,” before listing off some big names, including Tommy Lee Jones, who he acted in the 1994 film, The Client with.

William responded: “He was rough,” before adding: “I’m not letting out any secrets.”

The hosts then asked him what he thought about Jim Carrey, to which he replied: “I did not act with him, but I’ve just heard he can be really tough.

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“You know, there are a lot of actors out there, it p****s me off, who make life miserable for a lot of people and they don’t get busted for it and it p****s me off.”

William began his career on stage in theatre, before building his career by starring in small, independent films.

His breakthrough role was in black comedy crime film Fargo in 1996 which got him critical acclaim and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He went on to star in big Hollywood films in his career, including Psycho, Jurassic Park 3, Spartan and The Lincoln Lawyer.

He claimed Tommy Lee Jones was “rough” Credit: Getty – Contributor
William was asked what Jim Carrey is like Credit: Getty

William’s television work includes playing Dr. David Morgenstern in ER for 15 years and as Frank Gallagher on the US Shameless for 10 years.

He is a two-time Emmy Award and four-time Screen Actors Guild Award winner, and has been nominated for an Academy Award, a Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and five Golden Globe Awards.

The Hollywood star married actress Felicity Huffman in 1997 after dating on and off for 15 years.

The pair went on to have two children together – daughters Sophia Grace and Georgia Grace.

Felicity was jailed in 2019 for 14-days for her part in the college bribery scandal.

She admitted to paying $15,000 (£12,000) to rig her daughter’s SAT scores, tearfully apologising to the teen for not trusting her abilities.

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