The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) hosts some of the country’s most influential companies, many led by CEOs who do more than oversee operations.
A select group of these executives also stands out as major shareholders, combining managerial authority with significant personal stakes.
Large shareholding by a CEO is often seen as a signal of confidence in a company’s long-term prospects.
It aligns the interests of management with those of other shareholders, since the fortunes of both rise and fall together.
In markets like Nigeria’s, where corporate governance and investor trust are constant talking points, such ownership structures provide added reassurance about accountability and decision-making.
At the same time, the size of their stakes not only reflects financial strength but also hints at the level of control they wield in steering company policies, strategies, and growth paths. This makes their positions unique when compared to executives whose personal financial exposure is limited.
Nairametrics has compiled this report using the latest disclosures by companies on directors’ shareholdings. Where available, figures are drawn from Q2 2025 filings; otherwise, data from FY 2024 reports were referenced.
Collectively, the top ten CEOs on the NGX hold over 5.23 billion shares in their respective companies, spanning the financial services, insurance, and conglomerate sectors.
Here are the top ten CEOs of NGX-listed companies with the largest shareholdings in their companies.
Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, OON, is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc. She became the first female MD/CEO in the bank’s history when she assumed office in January 2021, after joining Fidelity in 2015 as an Executive Director.
She holds 94.64 million direct shares in the bank. This represents 0.30% of Fidelity’s total 32 billion shares.
- Onyeali-Ikpe studied at the Federal Government Girls’ College, Owerri, before obtaining a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a Master of Law from King’s College, London. She has also attended executive programmes at Harvard Business School, Wharton (University of Pennsylvania), London Business School, and recently earned a Diploma in Organizational Leadership from Oxford University’s Said Business School.
- Her career in banking began in 1990 as a Legal Officer at the defunct African Continental Bank. She went on to serve in treasury and leadership roles at First African Trust Bank, Citizens International Bank, Zenith Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank. In 2011, she became Executive Director at Enterprise Bank, overseeing Lagos and the South-West region.
Under her leadership, Fidelity also secured CBN approval to acquire Fidelity Bank UK Limited (formerly Union Bank UK), expanding its international footprint. She has championed digital innovation through projects like PayGate Plus and promoted SMEs globally with the Fidelity International Trade & Creative Connect (FITCC) initiative.
At the closing share price of N21.3 on August 29, 2025, her stake is valued at approximately N2.01 billion as of August 29, 2025.
These are mostly financial organizations. Is it wiser to buy shares of a company where the CEO has a larger stake, or one where the CEO has a smaller stake?