Across Nigeria’s manufacturing and fast-moving consumer goods sector(FMCG), a growing number of women are rising to the highest levels of corporate leadership, shaping strategy, driving innovation, and influencing boardroom decisions at companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
Historically dominated by male executives, Nigeria’s industrial and manufacturing landscape is gradually witnessing a shift as more women assume senior executive roles in publicly listed companies.
From food processing and consumer goods to cement and pharmaceuticals, female C-suite leaders are helping steer some of the country’s most recognisable brands while delivering value for shareholders and strengthening corporate governance.
Their presence reflects a broader push toward gender inclusion in corporate Nigeria. Recent governance data shows that women now occupy over 30% of board seats among the NGX-30 companies, highlighting a gradual but significant improvement in female representation at the highest levels of decision-making.
While the number of women in executive roles remains relatively small compared to their male counterparts, their impact is increasingly visible.
Female executives across Nigeria’s manufacturing/FMCG companies are playing pivotal roles in areas such as operations, finance, strategy, and supply chain management functions critical to sustaining growth in a sector that contributes significantly to the country’s industrial output.
These leaders are also helping to reshape workplace culture by promoting diversity, talent development, and inclusive leadership within their organisations.
Their career journeys often span decades of experience across multinational corporations, regional markets, and local industries, equipping them with the expertise needed to navigate complex operating environments.
In respect to the International Women’s Day celebration, we spotlight influential female C-suite executives leading manufacturing and FMCG companies listed on the NGX.
We also rank them based on the overall market capitalization of the companies as of February 27, 2026.
Market cap: N180 billion
Kemi Adeoye is a financial strategist and advisor with in-depth expertise in finance and experience that cuts across multiple industries. With over 20 years of track record in corporate finance, accounting, tax advisory and treasury management, she brings a wealth of experience to her role. Kemi has played a pivotal role in HGL’s valuable investments and initiatives, including developing and owning the partnership with the Bank of Industry, providing financial advisory on the purchase of a majority stake in a port operations company, and leading the finance and tax work-stream on the Honeywell Flour Mills divestment. She was recently appointed as a non-executive director on the board of Ikeja Hotel Plc.
As CFO, Kemi provides guidance and expertise in key financial decisions, ensuring the company’s financial objectives are aligned with its broader goals. She is also responsible for risk management and ensuring the adequacy and effectiveness of controls and Internal Audit across the Group.
Prior to Honeywell Group, she worked with Baker Tilly, where she led several audit engagements with local and multinational clients across different business sectors. Since joining Honeywell Group in 2006, she has held multiple responsibilities across business functions, including business management, finance, treasury, reporting, budgeting, and risk management.
Kemi holds a first-class bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Oxford Brookes University and an MBA from the Lagos Business School. She is also a member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
