Abubakar Suleiman Goronyo
Biography
Abubakar Suleiman Goronyo (FICA, MIMC, MNIM, HCIB) is a distinguished Nigerian banker, administrator, and community leader with over three decades of professional excellence in the financial sector. He currently serves as the General Manager and Zonal Head (North West) at Zenith Bank Plc. Born on January 16, 1966, in Sokoto State, Nigeria, Abubakar hails from Goronyo Local Government Area. He is also a traditional title holder, proudly bearing the title of Galadiman Goronyo, in recognition of his leadership and contributions to community development.
Education
He began his education at Government Secondary School, Shinkafi, then obtained his Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) certificate from the College of Arts and Science, Sokoto. He proceeded to Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, where he earned both B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Sociology.
Service
Before beginning his career in banking, Abubakar gained valuable experience in public service. He worked with the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA), where he contributed to regional agricultural and water management programs, and later joined the Nigerian Air Force in 1985, where he developed discipline, leadership, and teamwork skills that would shape his later career. Abubakar began his banking career at Afribank Nigeria Plc (1991–1999) as a Senior Officer before joining Standard Trust Bank (later UBA), where he rose through the ranks to become Branch Manager, Sector Head, and Group Head between 1999 and 2005. In 2005, he joined Zenith Bank Plc, where his managerial excellence, professional integrity, and relationship-building skills earned him successive promotions from Senior Relationship Manager to Assistant General Manager (AGM), then Deputy General Manager (DGM), and now General Manager (GM) and Zonal Head. In these roles, he has provided strategic direction, managed multi-state operations, and driven sustainable growth across Northern Nigeria. He is deeply committed to public service and national development, Abubakar is passionate about improving lives through effective financial management and developmental initiatives. He has a special interest in Conflict Resolution in the Developing World, an area in which he intends to pursue a Ph.D., reflecting his dedication to peacebuilding and social progress. He has received several recognitions, including the Kano State NYSC Honours Award and the Presidential National Honours Award. He has also attended numerous local and international management programs, such as Credit Risk Evaluation by Pimpley & Pimpley, Leading High-Performance Sales Teams (TDS), and the Management Development Programme (LBS) at the Lagos Business School.
