Jim Ovia to Chair Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition 2016

Mr. Jim Ovia, renowned banker and entrepreneur has been named as the chairman of the 2016 edition of the Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition.

In a statement signed by Dr. Evans Woherem, the Executive Chairman of Digital Africa Global Consult, the organizers of the annual technology gathering expressed delight that Mr. Jim Ovia accepted the invitation to chair this year’s event and described the development as a big plus for an event that has become Africa’s version of CES.

“As an advocate for digital technology, and with the aim of promoting the adoption, diffusion, and active development of digital technology in Africa, Digital Africa Global Consult, organizers of the annual Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition is delighted that Mr. Jim Ovia, MFR, one of the biggest promoters of a technology-driven African continent has accepted to chair this year’s event holding in Abuja on June 1-3 without hesitation.

“We are more delighted to have him chair DA2016 because we share in common, the same objectives of making Africa an active participant in the creation and use of technology and facilitate the continued, responsible growth of the African economy through the development of the technology industry,” the statement said.

Themed: “Accelerated Development for Africa with IoE (Internet of Everything),” the 2016 edition of the Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition which is the fourth in the series, holds from June1-3, 2016 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The statement further quoted Dr. Evans Woherem, Executive Chairman of Digital Africa Global Consult as noting that the choice for this year’s theme was borne out of the fact that the

Internet of Everything has gone from a small and interesting topic of conversation to an industry with the potential to change the way the world functions.

“In recent years, we’ve entered a new era of connectedness beyond the human realm. More and more objects in our physical world are now able to communicate with each other – or with us – through embedded sensors, tags, and actuators without human involvement. These “smart objects” can see, hear, feel, and smell the world around them.

“Intelligence embedded into personal items, household appliances, cars, clothing, factory equipment, and infrastructure generates vast amounts of valuable data that can be collected, networked, and analyzed for a wide range of business, societal, and personal advances,” Woherem said.

Born on November 5, 1951,at Agbor in Delta State of Nigeria, Jim Ovia attended Southern University Louisiana, where he obtained a B.Sc in Business Administration in 1977. He later proceeded to the North East Louisiana University, where he obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1979. He also did an Executive Management Program in the Harvard Business School.  

Ovia is a member of the Governing Council, Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), member of the Governing Council of Lagos State University and also a member of the Board of Trustees, Redeemer’s University for Nations, Lagos. He serves as a Director of Africa Finance Corporation and has headed various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) at various times. He was also appointed Chairman of the Committee on “Nigeria Polio-Immunisation Action Group”. He was a pioneer president of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG).

Ovia is the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank Group, one of the leading banks in Nigeria, as well as Visafone, a telecommunications company. He is also an investor in real estate across Nigeria, and serves as the Chairman of Quantum Luxury Properties Limited.

He is a motivational Speaker and an avid ICT person. He is a holder of the Member of the Order of Federal Republic (MFR).