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
Ms. Bolaji Agbede is the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, a position she assumed pending the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Her career spans across banking and business consultancy. She began her professional journey in 1992 at Guaranty Trust Bank, advancing to managerial positions by 2001. In 2003, she took on the role of Chief Executive Officer at JKG Limited, a business consulting firm, before joining Access Bank Plc the same year as Assistant General Manager, managing the bank’s portfolio of chemical trading companies.
- In 2010, she was appointed Head of Group Human Resources, a role she held for 12 years, overseeing talent strategy and organisational development. Her leadership contributed to the institution’s growth and operational integration during key expansion phases.
- Ms. Agbede holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos (1990) and a Master of Business Administration from Cranfield University, UK (2002). She is a member of both the Chartered Institute of Management (UK) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.
She has also attended top-tier leadership and professional development programmes, including the High-Performance Leadership Programme at IMD and the Strategic Talent Management Programme at the London Business School.
Access Holdings generated N4.88 trillion in revenue, held N41.50 trillion in total assets, and had a market capitalization of N1.09 trillion in 2024.
