The biggest market stories of 2025 weren’t just about earnings or forecasts.
They are shaped by listed companies that managed to close some of the largest deals of the year
In 2025, eight of these companies stood out for sealing major deals, with a combined transaction value of N1.232 trillion
Nairametrics reported that between January and July alone, corporates issued around N1.58 trillion in commercial papers, up sharply from N763.4 billion in the same period in 2024, reflecting a 37% increase in raised funds.
Behind these deals was not just corporate ambition, but strategic leadership. Driving those capital‑market deals were the finance chiefs, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), whose job it is to steer corporate strategy, manage liquidity and set funding plans.
This story is not just about numbers; it is about the CFOs, the financial architects behind Nigeria’s biggest deals of 2025.
These CFOs played a major role in structuring deals, managing risks, and turning complex financial maneuvers into successful outcomes. Their expertise allowed companies to strengthen balance sheets and pursue strategic growth, all while maintaining investor confidence.
Here are the CFOs behind Nigeria’s biggest market deals of 2025.
Kayode Adewuyi serves as Chief Financial Officer of First City Monument Bank Limited, having assumed the role in August 2021. In 2025, he oversaw deals totalling N100 billion.
Prior to his current position, Adewuyi was Chief Financial Officer of FCMB Group Plc between August 2016 and August 2021, and before that, he led the Mergers & Acquisitions team at FCMB Group, playing a central role in landmark transactions including the acquisitions of Finbank Plc, Legacy Pension Managers Limited, and AIICO Pension Managers Limited.
He began his banking career at First City Monument Bank Plc as Head of Mergers & Acquisitions and previously worked at KPMG Professional Services as a Senior Associate, building a strong foundation in audit, corporate finance, and financial advisory.
Adewuyi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from Lagos Business School. He has further enhanced his executive education by attending programmes at Wharton, INSEAD, and IMD Lausanne, including The CFO: Becoming a Strategic Partner at the Wharton School in 2018. He also holds a Diploma in IFRS from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and has built a career spanning over 20 years with expertise in audit, corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, business integration, and financial advisory, establishing himself as a strategic finance leader in the Nigerian banking sector.
