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
Mrs. Mayowa Olaniyan is the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Chams Holding Company Plc, a position she assumed on December 1, 2022, following the retirement of her predecessor, Mr. Gavin Young.
She has been in the role for nearly three years, leading the company’s strategic direction and operations, building on its financial performance, which saw Chams record N14.84 billion in revenue and a total asset base of N20.39 billion in 2024. The company also had a market capitalization of about N10 billion in 2024.
- A Chartered Accountant by training, Mrs. Olaniyan is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and a Fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), UK. She also holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, UK. With nearly three decades of experience, she is widely regarded for her strong financial expertise, corporate governance acumen, and strategic leadership in Nigeria’s business landscape.
- Her career began in 1994 as an Audit Trainee with Bolaji Finnih, after which she joined SCOA Nigeria Plc, where she spent 13 years in managerial roles, rising from Accountant to Divisional Accountant/Admin. She later served as Group Finance and Admin Manager at Tranter International Ltd, before moving into the Chams ecosystem.
At Chams, Mrs. Olaniyan has held several leadership roles, including Assistant General Manager (Corporate Services) at Supercard Ltd, a Chams subsidiary. She later became Group Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management (2011–2012), General Manager of Finance and Accounts (2012–2013), and General Manager of Special Duties and CFO (2014–2015).
She was subsequently appointed Executive Director at Chams Plc, and in 2020, she became Managing Director of ChamsMobile Limited, where she successfully led its growth in mobile and digital financial services before rising to her current position as Group CEO.
