The presence of women in top executive positions within Nigeria’s corporate sector has steadily grown, with more female leaders now steering some of the country’s biggest companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX).
This list spotlights women leading some of the most asset-rich corporations in Nigeria, spanning banking, financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and insurance.
Collectively, these female CEOs are responsible for managing assets valued at over N81 trillion.
Many of these female CEOs bring decades of experience across local and international institutions, combining strategic vision with proven track records in finance, operations, and innovation. Their rise to the helm of these companies signals a shift toward inclusivity and merit-based leadership in corporate governance.
Beyond their professional achievements, these executives also serve as role models for the next generation of women in business. Their positions reflect progress in gender representation at the highest levels of corporate Nigeria, while also highlighting the work that remains to achieve greater equity.
Here is a list of the top 15 female CEOs of companies listed on NGX by their total asset
Adaora Umeoji was appointed as the group managing director (GMD) in June 2024, making her the first female GMD to lead the bank.
The bank generated N3.97 trillion in revenue, held total assets of N29.96 trillion, and had a market capitalization of N1.43 trillion in 2024.
Adaora Umeoji joined the Bank in 1998, and since joining the bank, she headed the marketing group Maitama branch and went on to be the deputy zonal head of the Abuja Zone.
- She then became executive director in charge of Abuja and the Middle Belt Zones of the Bank.
- She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and first-class honors in Law from Baze University, Abuja.
- She’s a Master of Laws graduate from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Calabar.
- She attended the strategic thinking and management program at Wharton Business School, USA, and holds a certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Management Sloan School and a Certificate in Leading Global Businesses from Harvard Business School, USA.
She is a fellow of professional bodies including the Chartered Bankers Institute of London, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the Institute of Credit Administration, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Meditators & Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria, among others.
