Since taking office in 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pursued one of the most consequential economic reset agendas in Nigeria’s recent history, scrapping fuel subsidies, unifying the FX market, and signalling a return to market-led policy.
But beyond the headline reforms and volatile macro data lies a quieter, strategic shift in governance: the elevation of women into critical ministerial, agency, and parastatal roles that sit at the heart of execution.
In his cabinet alone, out of the 48 ministers, seven are women.
While inflation and currency pressures have tested households and businesses, financial markets have told a more optimistic story.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited has rallied sharply, buoyed by reform momentum, banking sector recapitalisation plays, and a gradual re-entry of foreign portfolio investors seeking yield and policy clarity.
This piece tracks the women(in no order of ranking)shaping that transition, leaders tasked with translating reform into results across finance, trade, regulation, and state-owned enterprises.
Their influence offers a distinct lens into how Tinubu’s economic agenda is being implemented, and whether Nigeria’s early market gains can evolve into sustained, broad-based growth.
Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria
Kemi Nandap is a career immigration officer and public administrator with over three decades of experience in border management, migration policy, and national security operations within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). She has held multiple command and leadership roles across the service, including oversight of migration directorates and airport commands.
She was appointed Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service in January 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, becoming the head of the agency responsible for immigration control, passport administration, and border security.
Born on 3 June 1966 in Zaria, Kaduna State, with roots in Ogun State, Nandap holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin, a Master’s in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the University of Jos, and an MBA from the University of Abuja.
She joined the NIS in 1989 and rose through the ranks from Assistant Superintendent to Deputy Comptroller-General, where she oversaw migration operations and international cooperation on issues including human trafficking and cross-border crime.
Her leadership has focused on modernising Nigeria’s immigration systems, including the rollout of digital passport processing, e-border solutions, and advanced passenger data systems to enhance security and efficiency.
