Across Nigeria’s business landscape lies a quiet group of professionals whose work determines how much trust investors place in the country’s economy, the auditors.
They don’t just look at numbers; they look behind them.
They check if profits are real, if losses are hidden, and if every naira adds up the way it should.
Their work gives investors, regulators, and the public confidence that companies are being honest about their finances.
Nigeria’s audit industry has transformed from a modest professional service into a formidable N28.2 billion powerhouse, marking an extraordinary 65% surge in 2024 alone.
With billions flowing through banks, oil companies, and manufacturing giants, trust has become one of the most valuable currencies in business. And in a country where financial scandals have shaken public confidence in the past, the role of audit firms has never been more critical.
These firms review financial statements, test company records, and sign off on reports that determine whether businesses are thriving or heading for trouble.
Behind the country’s largest and most trusted audit firms are a handful of leaders driving standards and redefining what financial credibility means in Nigeria. This article profiles the people leading Nigeria’s biggest audit firms, the professionals setting the tone for integrity, and trust across the financial system.
Here are the people leading Nigeria’s 10 most respected audit companies.
Alexander Peddler is the Managing Partner at Nexia Agbo Abel & Co. He has spent close to two decades rising through the firm’s ranks, from trainee to partner, before assuming leadership as Managing Partner in January 2023.
Peddler joined Nexia Agbo Abel & Co. in 2006 and has since held progressive roles, including Audit Senior, Manager, Senior Manager, Director, and, later, Partner in 2021, before his eventual appointment as Managing Partner in 2023. Over the years, he has led multiple high-impact projects in risk management, audit transformation, corporate governance, and process improvement, working with clients across both public and private sectors.
His expertise covers assurance, taxation, and financial reporting, with a strong focus on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and data analytics for business intelligence.
He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and also a certified IFRS specialist.
Peddler holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (Finance and Investment) from Ahmadu Bello University and a postgraduate certificate in Data Science and Business Analytics from the University of Texas at Austin.
This is a great list you have put together here, however I noticed that you have left out some partners also doing great things in the Nigerian Accounting industry.
1. Uhabia Ojike of Forvis Mazars in Nigeria
I urge you to do more findings and maybe include more partners of reputable accounting and audit firms here in Nigeria
Also this list says Audit firms Incase you are doing one of Tax regulatory and advisory services, you might want to include
1. Ajibola Sogunro of Forvis Mazars
2. Albert Folorunsho of Kreston Pedabo.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts