Across Nigeria’s top publicly listed companies, one might expect to find boardrooms filled with diverse voices and perspectives. In reality, only a small number of women currently hold executive positions shaping corporate governance.
The NGX-30 refers to the 30 largest and most liquid (frequently traded) companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
According to the 2025 PWR Advisory NGX-30 Board Gender Diversity Scorecard, women now hold 31.1% of board seats among the top 30 listed companies, up from 29.7% in 2024.
While their numbers remain few, their influence is unmistakable, guiding strategic decisions that affect millions of shareholders, employees, and industry stakeholders across the country.
In a sector defined by rapid change and competitive pressures, their contributions are critical to sustaining growth, managing risk, and setting benchmarks for corporate governance across Nigeria’s top-listed companies.
Though much of their work happens behind the scenes, the outcomes are clear. In 2025, the NGX All‑Share Index, which tracks the performance of the companies listed on the exchange, hit a record high of 155,613 points by year-end, finishing up more than 51% and solidifying its position among the best-performing emerging and frontier market exchanges globally.
These leaders are not just present in the boardroom, they are driving results, shaping policy, and setting benchmarks for operational excellence.
Here are the 13 female executive directors of Nigeria’s top 30 publicly listed companies
Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olaiya is the Executive Director in charge of Risk Management and Compliance at First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB).
She joined the board of FCMB following Central Bank of Nigeria approval on 8 June 2021, bringing more than 30 years of experience in finance and risk management within the banking sector.
- Prior to her board role, Mrs. Olaiya served as Chief Risk Officer and Divisional Head of Risk Management at FCMB, where she oversaw enterprise risk policy, credit administration, credit underwriting, monitoring, and the development of risk frameworks across the bank.
- She began her professional journey as an auditor with KPMG Peat Marwick before moving into various roles in domestic operations, internal audit, business development, financial control, compliance, and risk management within the banking industry.
- Mrs. Olaiya later held leadership positions at Abacus Merchant Bank Limited, Magnum Trust Bank Limited, and Sterling Bank Plc before joining FCMB in 2016.
- Mrs. Olaiya holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile‑Ife. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, reflecting her professional standing and expertise in financial governance and risk oversight.
Women of greater reasons of Life 💝🙏
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