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Founder/Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, will discontinue further participation at the World Economic Forum Africa 2019, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa. In a statement released by Zenith Bank on Thursday, the bank said Ovia has withdrawn from further activities at the event following the sensitivity of the issues surrounding the lives and well-being of Nigerian citizens living in South Africa.

A spokesperson of the WEF also confirmed on Thursday that Nigerian delegation would not attend the World Economic Forum Africa, which is being held in Cape Town this week. The Nigerian government and businessleaders are boycotting the WEF 2019 following the recent spate of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in Johannesburg.

Zenith Bank also said its Founder/Chairman has withdrawn from the event to contribute his voice against the poor state of security regarding foreign nationals living in Africa.

“Before taking his exit, Mr. Ovia stressed the need for youth empowerment and better government policies to curb continual attacks on persons living within and outside Africa,” Zenith Bank said. “He belaboured that until positive change towards collective growth happens on this front, the continent would not reach its potential.”

Ovia added that full support should be rendered in vocational education of young people in Nigeria and across Africa. According to him, the Jim Ovia Foundation has taken up a stance on this issue, having empowered over 3,500 students and entrepreneurs since its inception. He called on other members of the private sector to join hands and solve this menace plaguing the African continent.