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. Adenike Aboderin is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO Plc), a role she assumed on February 1, 2024, following the completion of tenure by her predecessor, Basil Agboarumi.
The company generated N28.94 billion in revenue, held N41.78 billion in total assets, and had a market capitalization of N50 billion in 2024.
- Before joining SAHCO, she served as the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), where she oversaw the finance, accounts, credit control, and budget directorates until December 2023.
- Earlier in her public sector career, she was Special Adviser to the Governor of Ogun State on Trade and Investments, while also supervising the state’s Economic Planning Department between 2011 and 2014. In 2015, she chaired the Sub-Committee on Social Issues of the Presidential Transition Committee.
- Mrs. Aboderin also built a solid foundation in the financial services industry with a career spanning more than 20 years across leading institutions, including Skye Bank Plc (now Polaris Bank Limited), Citibank Nigeria, Premium Securities Limited, and Commerce Bank. She further broadened her professional scope as a Consulting Partner at Novateur Consulting Limited, a financial advisory firm, and has served on several boards.
Her expertise cuts across policy and strategy formulation, business and risk management, financial advisory, and sectoral development in oil and gas, infrastructure, marine, transportation, and manufacturing.
Academically, Mrs. Aboderin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB), a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (FCNA), and an AMPAP Certified International Airport Professional (IAP). She has also attended advanced executive programs, including Global Strategic Management at Harvard Business School and the Advanced Management Programme at Lagos Business School. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development at the University of Sussex, UK.
