In Nigeria’s corporate landscape, women at the helm of finance functions are playing pivotal roles in steering balance sheets, driving growth, and consolidating performance.
These Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) oversee trillions in assets, navigating complex regulatory frameworks while shaping strategy across industries from banking and insurance to oil, gas, and consumer goods.
The influence of these finance leaders extends beyond numbers. They embody resilience, international exposure, and technical depth, combining strong academic pedigrees with hands-on experience in treasury, taxation, and corporate finance. Their leadership has been instrumental in growing profitability, shoring up investor confidence, and positioning their companies for long-term sustainability.
In 2024, the ranking of Nigeria’s top female CFOs by assets managed offers an insightful snapshot of where financial leadership meets corporate performance. From mega-banking groups to consumer goods giants, these women are charting paths that redefine financial management in Africa’s largest economy.
Below is a breakdown of the top female CFOs in Nigeria’s listed companies by total assets under management in 2024.
Top female CFOs in Nigeria by total assets managed as of 2024
Total assets being managed as of 2024 – N157.72 billion
- Babafunke Adesua Ijaya-Oladipo was appointed Group Finance Director of UAC on July 28, 2021. Prior to this, she served as UAC’s Group CFO and Head of Investor Relations.
- She began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs in London, before joining Standard Bank Group, where she completed over 25 capital market and M&A transactions in South Africa and Nigeria. At Stanbic IBTC Capital, she led the equity capital markets division and executed multiple cross-border deals. Altogether, she has more than 17 years of operational finance, corporate finance, and capital markets experience.
- UACN’s PAT improved by 83.10% year-on-year, rising to N16.31 billion in 2024 from N8.91 billion in 2023. Cash and cash equivalents increased 60.64% to N40.59 billion, up from N25.27 billion in 2023. Market capitalization more than doubled, climbing from N92.03 billion at the end of 2024 to N233.94 billion as of August 21, 2025.
- She holds a B.Sc. in Economics and an M.Sc. in Project & Enterprise Management, both from University College London (UCL). She is a CFA Charterholder and serves on the advisory board of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity Africa (SEO Africa).
