Women are no longer standing on the sidelines of Nigeria’s corporate space, they are driving some of the country’s most valuable companies, making decisions that shape industries and influence billions of naira in assets.
From banking to hospitality, healthcare to manufacturing, these women have climbed to the very top of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) ladder, where they now oversee businesses worth trillions.
Collectively, the female CEOs featured here manage assets valued at more than ₦81 trillion, a clear sign that gender diversity at the top of corporate Nigeria is not only growing but also delivering impact.
They bring decades of experience across global and local institutions, and their stories stand as proof of resilience, vision, and leadership.
Bolaji Agbede — Acting Group CEO, Access Holdings Plc (₦41.5 trillion in assets)
Bolaji Agbede currently holds one of the most powerful seats in Nigerian banking as the Acting Group CEO of Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of Access Bank. With assets worth ₦41.5 trillion, the group is one of Africa’s largest financial institutions.
Agbede’s journey began in 1992 at Guaranty Trust Bank before she branched into consulting, running JKG Limited as CEO in 2003. That same year, she joined Access Bank, steadily rising through the ranks.
By 2010, she became the Head of Group Human Resources, a role in which she spent 12 years driving talent strategy and organizational development during the bank’s aggressive expansion across Africa.
Her academic portfolio is just as impressive: a Mathematics and Statistics degree from the University of Lagos, an MBA from Cranfield University in the UK, and executive training at London Business School and IMD Switzerland.
Today, she is tasked with guiding Access Holdings through one of its most crucial phases, following its record-breaking revenues of ₦4.88 trillion in 2024.
Adaora Umeoji — Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc (₦29.96 trillion in assets)
When Adaora Umeoji was named GMD of Zenith Bank in June 2024, she made history as the first woman to lead the institution. Under her watch, the bank’s assets now stand at ₦29.96 trillion, reinforcing its place as one of Nigeria’s strongest financial giants.
Umeoji’s rise is a blend of hard work and academic brilliance. Since joining the bank in 1998, she has handled roles from branch leadership to overseeing entire zones across Abuja and the Middle Belt.
Her academic achievements are unmatched, she holds multiple degrees, including Law, Sociology, Accounting, and several postgraduate qualifications from top global schools like Harvard, Wharton, and MIT.
Beyond her professional duties, Umeoji is a fellow of numerous professional bodies, cementing her influence within Nigeria’s banking sector.
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe — CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc (₦8.82 trillion in assets)
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe broke new ground in January 2021 when she became the first woman to lead Fidelity Bank Plc. With assets at ₦8.82 trillion, she has overseen a period of transformation, steering the bank into a new growth phase.
Her career spans over 30 years across major institutions like Zenith Bank, Standard Chartered, and Enterprise Bank.
Onyeali-Ikpe’s academic background is equally strong, she studied Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, obtained a Master of Laws from King’s College London, and attended executive programs at Harvard, Oxford, and Wharton.
Under her leadership, Fidelity has grown into one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising tier-one contenders, with ₦1.04 trillion in revenue in 2024.
Owen Omogiafo — President/Group CEO, Transnational Corporation Plc (₦751.56 billion in assets)
At just 39, Owen Omogiafo became the first woman to lead Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) Plc when she was appointed in 2020. Since then, she has steered the conglomerate which spans power, hospitality, and oil & gas into a new era of profitability.
Her career is rich and diverse, with roles at Accenture, United Bank for Africa, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and Heirs Holdings. Academically, she studied Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Benin and completed a Master’s in HR Management at the London School of Economics.
In 2024 alone, Transcorp reported revenues of ₦407.92 billion. Omogiafo also sits on the boards of major subsidiaries, including Transcorp Power and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, where she plays a critical role in Nigeria’s energy transformation.
Uzoamaka Oshogwe — MD/CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc (₦140.70 billion in assets)
Taking charge on January 1, 2025, Uzoamaka Oshogwe became the new face of Nigeria’s leading hospitality brand, Transcorp Hotels Plc, best known for its iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
Oshogwe’s career spans global brands like Ford Motors and Sainsbury in the UK, as well as Accenture and UBA in Nigeria. Before this appointment, she successfully led Afriland Properties, where she built a reputation for transformative real estate projects.
Armed with a Chemistry degree from Ambrose Alli University and an MSc in Information Systems from the University of Westminster, Oshogwe has also completed executive education at Harvard, Lagos Business School, and IESE Barcelona.
In 2024, Transcorp Hotels posted revenues of ₦70.13 billion and a market cap of ₦1.19 trillion under her stewardship.
Oyeyimika Adeboye — MD, Cadbury Nigeria Plc (₦72.44 billion in assets)
In April 2019, Oyeyimika Adeboye made history as the first female Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, the confectionery giant behind household favorites like Bournvita. She also doubles as the head of Mondelez West Africa, Cadbury’s parent company in the region.
Her career spans finance and corporate strategy, with early years in the UK at accounting firm Midgley Snelling & Co. She later served at Arthur Andersen and Nigerian Bottling Company before joining Cadbury in 2008. By 2019, her leadership path brought her to the top.
Born into the entrepreneurial Odutola family, Adeboye grew up surrounded by business excellence, and she has lived up to that legacy. Cadbury posted ₦129.17 billion in revenue in 2024, cementing her as a leader shaping Nigeria’s FMCG space.
Ndidi Dukor — Co-CEO, MeCure Healthcare Ltd (₦54.84 billion in assets)
Ndidi Anderline Dukor co-leads MeCure Healthcare Limited, a pharmaceutical company with growing dominance in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. With ₦54.84 billion in assets, MeCure is the largest pharma company by market capitalization on the NGX.
Her journey with MeCure began in 2006, first as a pharmacist, then as Director of Pharmaceutical Operations for over a decade. In 2022, she became Co-CEO, leveraging her 25+ years in the industry to push MeCure’s mission of delivering quality healthcare at scale.
Dukor’s academic foundation includes a Master’s in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Lagos and a Master of Public Health from LASUCOM. Today, she drives innovation in healthcare delivery while positioning MeCure as a market leader.
Adenike Aboderin – Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (₦41.78 billion)
When Adenike Aboderin assumed office as MD/CEO of SAHCO Plc in February 2024, she stepped into one of aviation’s most visible roles.
With over two decades of financial services and public sector leadership behind her, she brings a rare blend of boardroom sharpness and policy depth.
SAHCO closed 2024 with ₦28.94 billion in revenue and ₦41.78 billion in assets, cementing its place as a logistics backbone of Nigeria’s aviation sector. Adenike previously served as Director of Finance at FAAN, Special Adviser to the Governor of Ogun State, and consulting partner at Novateur.
Her professional reach cuts across banking, infrastructure, and transportation positioning her as more than just an aviation leader, but as a strategist shaping Nigeria’s critical sectors.
Adaobi Nwakuche – Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc (₦37.54 billion)
Insurance is not often seen as glamorous, but Adaobi Nwakuche has spent 25 years proving it can be powerful. As CEO of Veritas Kapital Assurance, she oversees a ₦37.54 billion asset base while charting a clear path for growth.
Before this role, she was the founding CEO of Heirs Insurance and a senior executive at Heirs Holdings, STACO Insurance, and Standard Alliance. Known for her ability to structure big-ticket deals and reposition organizations, she has become one of the most respected voices in Nigeria’s insurance industry.
With a doctorate in Insurance and Corporate Governance, her blend of academic depth and executive experience places her at the frontier of risk management innovation in Nigeria.
Catherine Nwosu – Africa Prudential Plc (₦34.85 billion)
Catherine Nwosu’s appointment in March 2024 was historic: she became the first female CEO of Africa Prudential Plc.
It was also a homecoming having joined the company in 2006, she spent over a decade shaping its systems as COO before returning from a stint at BUA Group to lead as MD/CEO.
Africa Prudential ended 2024 with ₦34.85 billion in assets and a market cap of ₦40 billion, consolidating its place in capital market services. Beyond numbers, Catherine represents continuity, growth, and the quiet force of institutional memory, a leader who knows the DNA of her company inside out.
Ngozi Chukwu – Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc (₦25.15 billion)
From media to mortgage banking, Ngozi Chukwu has proven the power of reinvention. Starting her career in publishing, she transitioned into banking, rising to Group Head of Business Development before being appointed Acting MD/CEO of Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank.
She now oversees ₦25.15 billion in assets and a market capitalization of ₦30 billion, with a mandate to modernize Nigeria’s mortgage space.
With her background in marketing, strategic execution, and behavioral intelligence, Chukwu is positioning ITMB not just as a mortgage bank, but as a financial partner for a new generation of Nigerian homeowners.
Risikatu Ladi Ahmed – ASO Savings and Loans Plc (₦23.40 billion)
When Risikatu Ahmed took over ASO Savings and Loans in 2021, she became the bank’s first female CEO. Today, she sits atop a ₦23.40 billion asset base, steering one of Nigeria’s most recognized mortgage institutions.
A lawyer by training, with advanced management credentials from Wharton and INSEAD, Risikatu blends legal rigor with corporate leadership.
Her career began at Diamond Bank and spanned two decades across banking operations and corporate services. At ASO, she has been pivotal in repositioning the bank for stability and growth in a turbulent industry.
Mayowa Olaniyan – Chams Holding Company Plc (₦20.39 billion)
Chartered Accountant. Tech leader. Turnaround strategist. These words define Mayowa Olaniyan, Group CEO of Chams Holding Company.
Since 2022, she has led the ₦20.39 billion company into new digital frontiers while preserving its legacy as one of Nigeria’s pioneering ICT firms.
With nearly three decades of experience across finance and corporate governance, Mayowa represents the growing intersection of finance and technology. From audit rooms to C-suites, her journey reflects resilience and adaptability, two traits essential for steering Chams in Nigeria’s highly competitive tech ecosystem.
Bolarin Okunowo – Chemical and Allied Products Plc (₦19.68 billion)
At CAP Plc, a UACN subsidiary, Bolarin Okunowo is driving one of Nigeria’s oldest industrial brands into a new growth era.
Since becoming MD/CEO in December 2021, she has overseen ₦36.36 billion in revenue and ₦19.68 billion in assets while strengthening CAP’s leadership in the paints and coatings market.
A Birmingham and LSE alumna, she is both a finance professional and a business strategist. Previously MD of Portland Paints, she successfully executed its merger with CAP, a move that reshaped the Nigerian paints industry.
Today, she sits on multiple boards, including Wema Bank, combining financial expertise with industrial leadership.
Idu C. Okwuosa-Okeahialam – Royal Exchange Plc (₦9.21 billion)
Appointed MD in May 2025, Idu Okwuosa-Okeahialam is tasked with repositioning Royal Exchange Plc, a financial services group with a legacy stretching back decades. With ₦9.21 billion in assets, the company is looking to her to spark new growth.
Idu’s career spans oil and gas, banking, pensions, and compliance, including senior roles at Stanbic IBTC, Oceanic Pension Custodian, and State Street Corporation in Boston.
Beyond finance, she is a social entrepreneur and co-founder of LasGidis Recyclers, turning waste into opportunity.
In her, Royal Exchange gains not just a CEO, but a leader whose worldview extends from boardrooms to social impact projects, proof that leadership today demands more than profits, it demands purpose.