Meet 13 Female Executive Directors Powering Nigeria’s NGX 30 Companies

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

13. Mrs. Pamela Shodipo: ED, South Directorate, Fidelity Bank Plc

Mrs. Pamela Shodipo is the Executive Director in charge of the South Directorate at Fidelity Bank Plc, a role she assumed following regulatory approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria on 10 February 2023.

She has more than 25 years of cross‑border and multifunctional experience in the banking industry, spanning general management, business origination, and leadership across key market segments.

• She began her career in 1991 at International Standard Insurance Limited, then joined United Commercial Bank Limited in 1992. She moved to Zenith Bank in 1997, rising to Assistant General Manager by 2007.
• In 2007, she joined United Bank for Africa (UBA), where she held multiple leadership roles, including Regional Director, General Manager, and Managing Director/CEO of UBA Benin Republic. Before joining Fidelity Bank, she was Head of Personal Banking for UBA Group, overseeing Nigeria and Africa.
• Pamela holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Lagos and an MBA from the University of Wales College of Cardiff. She has completed executive programmes at Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School, and the University of Oxford, and is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

At Fidelity Bank, she leads the South Directorate, driving customer engagement, operational growth, and strategic initiatives across the bank’s business segments.

12. Ms. Bolaji Agbede: Executive Director, Access Holdings Plc 

In February 2024, she was appointed as Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings until 29 August 2025, when the substantive Group Managing Director/CEO was appointed.

• She started her career three decades ago at Guaranty Trust Bank, where she served in a range of roles, including Relationship Manager and Vault Custodian, rising to managerial rank by 2001. In 2003, she served as Chief Executive Officer of JKG Limited, a business consulting firm, before joining Access Bank as Assistant General Manager later that year, managing the bank’s portfolio of chemical trading companies.
• Ms. Agbede served as Head of Group Human Resources for Access Bank from 2010 to 2022. In 2022, she was appointed the company’s founding Executive Director for Business Support, a role that positioned her at the heart of strategic execution across the Access Holdings ecosystem.
• She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos and a Master of Business Administration from Cranfield University, UK.

Ms. Agbede is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management (UK) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, with advanced leadership training from IMD and London Business School.

11. Ms. Mariya Aliko Dangote: Executive Director, Operations, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

Ms. Mariya Aliko Dangote is the Executive Director of Operations at Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, a role she assumed on 28 July 2023.

• In her executive capacity, Ms. Aliko Dangote oversees the business and strategic operations of Dangote Sugar Refinery, including leadership of backward integration projects and the implementation of digitization and mechanization across key operational processes and subsidiaries.
• Before joining Dangote Sugar Refinery, she served as a Business Strategy and Corporate Risk Specialist at Dangote Industries Limited, the holding company of the Dangote Group.
• Ms. Aliko Dangote holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and a Barrister at Law (BL), as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Coventry University in the United Kingdom. She is also attending the Cambridge Senior Management Programme and has completed professional courses in business strategy, advanced management, alternative dispute resolution, and productivity optimization.

In addition to her responsibilities at Dangote Sugar Refinery, she also serves on the boards of Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited, Dangote Cement Limited, Dangote Packaging Limited and the Al‑Ummah Development Foundation, contributing to broader group initiatives and governance.

10. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olaiya: ED, Risk Management and Compliance, FCMB 

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.

9. Ms. Felicia Obozuwa: ED, Corporate Services and Service Management, FCMB 

Ms. Felicia Obozuwa is the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Service Management at First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB), a role she assumed on 3 January 2025.

• She has three decades of experience in the Nigerian banking sector. Prior to her current role, she served as Divisional Head of the Corporate Services Division and Service Management.
• She has also led the Human Resources and Change Management function and held positions as Vice President and Group Head of Premium Banking at the bank.
• Ms. Obozuwa began her career at FCMB as a management trainee in 1998 and spent the early years of her career in corporate banking before transitioning to commercial banking as manager of the Ikeja branch.
• After completing her MBA at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom in 2006, she was appointed Head of Product Development for Consumer Banking at FCMB. In that capacity, she launched the bank’s Wealth Management business, which later evolved into the Premium Banking segment of the retail division.

Ms. Obozuwa holds an honours degree in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile‑Ife, Nigeria.

8. Mrs. Maria Karaseva: FO/Executive Director, International Breweries Plc

Mrs. Maria A. Karaseva is the Finance Director and Executive Director of International Breweries Plc.

Before joining International Breweries, Mrs. Karaseva served as Finance Director at Al Ahram Beverages Company (ABC) in Egypt, a subsidiary of the HEINEKEN Group, from April 2023 to August 2025.

• Her career includes over 14 years at PepsiCo, where she held senior finance roles across Central Europe, Central Asia, Ukraine, and Russia. Positions included Finance Senior Director for Risk & Control, CFO Central Europe/Greater Balkans, and CFO for Ukraine/Central Asia/Caucasus. In these roles, she co-designed growth and investment strategies, implemented digitized finance processes through SAP, led Shared Service Center creation, and delivered double-digit revenue and profit growth.
• Mrs. Karaseva began her career in finance at The Estée Lauder Companies, holding roles as Finance Analyst and Business Manager between 2003 and 2007, gaining early exposure to multinational financial management and strategic operations.
• She holds a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Chinese Economy from Lomonosov Moscow State University, and her career reflects a strong combination of financial acumen, international experience, and operational leadership.

7. Ms. Chinyere Ezeugwu: Finance Director, International Breweries Plc

Ms. Chinyere Ezeugwu is the Finance Director of International Breweries Plc. In this role, she leads the company’s financial strategy and reporting as part of its executive leadership team.

• Ms. Ezeugwu joined International Breweries in 2020 as the Head of Control and was later promoted to Head of Financial Planning and Analytics, where she played a central role in strengthening internal financial controls, planning frameworks, and performance analysis that support strategic decision‑making.
• She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Ms. Ezeugwu is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, credentials that reflect her expertise in financial governance, reporting, and corporate finance.
• As Finance Director, Ms. Ezeugwu has been visible in corporate disclosures and at shareholder meetings, where she has outlined progress on strengthening the company’s capital structure and reducing foreign exchange exposure in challenging macroeconomic conditions.

6. Mrs. Ayotola Jagun: Executive Director, Oando Plc 

Mrs. Ayotola Jagun is an Executive Director of Oando Plc, a role she assumed effective 20 May 2025 following her appointment by the company’s board.

Her appointment caps more than 30 years of professional practice, during which she has built deep expertise in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, and sustainability.

• For the past 14 years, Mrs. Jagun served as Oando’s Chief Compliance Officer and Company Secretary, where she was instrumental in aligning corporate practices with global governance standards, fostering transparency, and strengthening stakeholder confidence.
• Mrs. Jagun’s earlier career includes legal and compliance roles in international finance and corporate services, including positions with Capital G Limited and Harbour Group in Bermuda, Citigroup Fund Services, and Sara Lee, where she handled regulatory compliance, governance, cross‑border transactions and risk control functions.
• She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree with Upper Second Class honours from Birmingham City University, a BL from the Nigeria Law School, and an MSc in Corporate Governance and Business Ethics from Birkbeck, University of London.

She also studied law conversion course at BPP Law School and undertook postgraduate legal studies at the University of Cambridge.

5. Mrs. Olufunke Amobi: Executive Director, Operations, Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited 

Mrs. Olufunke Amobi is the Executive Director, Operations at Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited. She oversees the bank’s operational framework, ensuring efficiency across core banking processes, shared services, data management, procurement, real estate services, and customer experience delivery.

• She has over three decades of experience across Oil and Gas, Banking and Financial Services, and Telecommunications. Prior to her current position, she served as Deputy Head, Operations at Stanbic IBTC Bank, where she supervised core banking operations, enterprise data functions, business transformation initiatives, and strategic customer experience management.
• Mrs. Amobi previously served as Regional Head, People & Culture for Nigeria and West Africa, and Head of People & Culture at Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, where she led the people strategy across six countries. Before that, she held senior roles at MTN Nigeria, NNB International Bank (now Unity Bank PLC), and ARCO Petrochemical, overseeing human capital, organisational development, and administration.
• Mrs. Amobi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Lagos and an MBA from Lancaster University, UK, where she graduated with distinction and was awarded the Dean’s Prize. She earned postgraduate certificates in organisational development and talent management from University of Bedfordshire, and University of Surrey.

She is also a Chartered Companion and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, United Kingdom, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.

4. Mrs. Eleanor Adaralegbe: CFO/ Executive Director, Seplat Energy Plc

Mrs. Eleanor Adaralegbe is the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Seplat Energy Plc. She was appointed to the Board as an Executive Director on 1 May 2024 and assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer on 21 May 2024, after serving as CFO Designate from July 2023.

• She joined Seplat in February 2015 and brings close to three decades of experience spanning the oil and gas industry and professional services.
• Before joining Seplat, she held roles at Ernst & Young, ConocoPhillips, Ocean Energy, a subsidiary of Devon Energy, and Addax Petroleum, building a broad base in financial management, controls, and corporate governance.
• Within Seplat Energy, she has held several senior leadership positions, including Vice President of Finance. In that capacity, she oversaw the Finance, Tax, and Supply Chain Management functions. She also serves as chairperson of the contracts tender board and sits on the Board of Elcrest. Over the years, she has played a key role in stakeholder management within Nigeria’s energy sector and in strengthening engagement with the global investor community.
• Mrs. Adaralegbe is a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

She holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and an MSc in Global Finance from City University of London, now Bayes Business School. She is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

3. Mrs. Temitope Oguntokun: Executive Director, International Breweries Plc

Mrs. Temitope Oguntokun is an Executive Director at International Breweries Plc, a position she assumed following her appointment by the company’s board on 2 April 2024 and subsequent notification to the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

• Before her board appointment, Mrs. Oguntokun served as the Corporate Affairs and Regulatory Director of International Breweries Plc, a member of the AB InBev Group, where she led corporate affairs strategy and regulatory engagement. She built her career across disciplines including journalism, strategic communications, government relations, marketing communications, and change management.
• Mrs. Oguntokun holds a Master of Arts degree in Communications, Media and Public Relations from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, and a Post‑Graduate Diploma in Communication Studies from Lagos State University. She also earned both Ordinary and Higher National Diplomas in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic Ibadan.
• She is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, a Fellow and Executive Council Member of the Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria, and a Member of the International Association of Business Communicators, underscoring her standing in professional and sustainability circles.

At International Breweries, Mrs. Oguntokun contributes to strategic leadership and governance, drawing on her diverse expertise to support the company’s growth

2. Mrs. Kemisola Ajasa: Executive Director, Nestlé Nigeria Plc

Mrs. Kemisola Ajasa is the Executive Director at Nestlé Nigeria Plc, a role she assumed on 1 November 2024.

She began her career at Julia Foods Limited in 1994 as a Quality Assurance and Export Officer, then moved to Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Ltd in 2002 as Regulatory Affairs Manager, a position she held until 2010.

• She joined Nestlé Nigeria Plc in 2010 as Regulatory Affairs Manager, later serving as Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Manager and Country Crisis Coordinator from 2013 to 2018. From 2018 to 2022, she was Regional Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Manager, overseeing regulatory functions across 26 Central and West African countries.
• In 2022, she became Head of Corporate RSA at Nestlé Nigeria, before her appointment to the board as Executive Director in 2024.
• She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Calabar and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biochemistry from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile‑Ife.

In her role as Executive Director, she drives regulatory compliance, strategic governance, and operational excellence, leveraging her expertise in product launches, industry advocacy, and stakeholder management to support Nestlé Nigeria’s growth and sustainability initiatives.

1. Mrs. Adobi Nwapa: Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc

Mrs. Adobi Stella Nwapa serves as Executive Director at Zenith Bank Plc, bringing more than three decades of banking experience to the board. A pioneer staff member who joined the bank in 1990, she has grown alongside the institution, building deep institutional knowledge from its early years to its emergence as one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions.

• She began her career at Zenith Bank as a customer service officer and steadily rose through the ranks, taking on increasingly strategic responsibilities. Over the years, she has held senior management roles across business development, branch and zonal management, and treasury operations, contributing to the bank’s expansion and operational strength.
• Before her appointment to the board, Mrs. Nwapa was General Manager and Group Zonal Head of the Ikoyi Zone, where she oversaw one of the bank’s key business regions. She also served as Group Head of Diaspora Banking, leading initiatives aimed at strengthening the bank’s engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora and expanding cross-border banking services.
• She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Imo State University, a Master’s in Public Administration from Strayer University in Houston, Texas, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Jack Welch Management Institute. She also received an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Abia State University.

Ms. Agbede has executive training from Harvard, London Business School, and Lagos Business School, and holds fellowships and memberships in several banking and management institutes.