In this article, platinumtimes.ng runs through the list of top female CEOs who are making waves in Nigeria’s banking sector.
The finance industry has grown to be the engine house of the nation owing to its involvement in management and allocation of funds for individuals, companies and the government.
The industry is extended to branches including banking, credit, investment, asset management etc.
Over the years, due to the intense struggle for gender equality among the male and the female folks, women have risen in different areas of finance to prove themselves worthy of tasks they are being given.
These women strife to succeed irrespective of the hiccups they encounter while dispensing their duties.
This article archives a list of women who have grown to be leaders and heads in Nigeria’s banking sector.
Summary of top female CEOs leading Nigerian banks in 2024
- Miriam Olusanya (GT Bank)
- Yemisi Edun (FCMB)
- Halima Buba (SunTrust Bank)
- Ireti Samuel-Ogbu (Citibank)
- Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (Fidelity Bank)
- Tomi Somefun (Unity Bank)
- Kafilat Araoye (Lotus Bank)
- Bukola Smith (FSDH Merchant Bank)
- Yetunde Oni (Union Bank)
Miriam Olusanya (GT Bank)
Miriam Olusanya is the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank. She is recorded as the first woman to ever hold the position.
She assumed this position in July 2021 and is a graduate of Pharmacy from the University of Ibadan and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Liverpool.
She previously served as an Executive Director of the bank before her appointment.
Yemisi Edun (FCMB)
Yemisi Edun is the managing director/chief executive officer of First City Monument Bank, she assumed this position in July, 2021 and also the first female CEO of the organization.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Ife and a Master’s degree in International accounting and finance from the University of Liverpool.
She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a CFA holder.
She is also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Stock brokers, an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, and a member of the Information Systems Audit and Control.
Halima Buba (SunTrust Bank)
Halima Buba, a business expert and banker from Adamawa presently presides as the Managing Director and CEO of Sun Trust Bank plc.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business management and MBA from the University of Maiduguri.
She is an alumna of the Lagos Business School and honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants.
She assumed this position in January 2021 after serving as the deputy general manager in Ecobank Nigeria.
Ireti Samuel-Ogbu (Citibank)
Ireti Samuel-Ogbu is the first female CEO of Citibank PLC. She served as the managing director of payments and receivables, treasury and trade solutions for Europe, Middle East and Africa at the lender’s office in London.
She has worked in the finance sector for decades and will use the knowledge and experiences gathered to develop better policies for the bank.
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (Fidelity Bank)
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe is the first female managing director and chief executive officer of Fidelity Bank Nigeria.
She was born in Awka, Anambra State but grew up in Owerri, Imo State, where she studied at the Federal Government Girls’ College.
She has a law degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She also has a master’s degree in Law from King’s College London.
She joined the Fidelity bank PLC as an executive director in January, 2015and was later managing director in December 2020.
Tomi Somefun (Unity Bank)
Oluwatomi Somefun currently serves as the Managing Director and CEO of Unity Bank plc.
She obtained a B.Ed. in English Language in 1981 from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Osun state and she is an alumna of Harvard Business school and University of Columbia Business School, New York.
Her professional career started with Peat Marwick and Co. and later moved to Arthur Andersen (now KPMG) before becoming an executive director at Unity Bank plc.
Kafilat Araoye (Lotus Bank)
Kafilat Araoye is a seasoned financial expert with years of experience with different financial institutions. She is the Managing Director of Lotus Bank Plc.
She holds a degree in History from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University and an M.Sc. in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management from the University of Lagos.
She also holds Islamic Finance certifications issued by Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance, the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment/Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance, as well as the Islamic Research & Training Institute.
She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (ICAN) and Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. She holds an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester U.K, and a B.Sc. Economics from the University of Lagos.
Bukola Smith (FSDH Merchant Bank)
Bukola Smith is currently the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FSDH Merchant Bank since April 2021.
Prior to this position, she was the Executive Director, Business Development at First City Monument Bank and held several other leadership positions since joining in 2006.
She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (ICAN) and Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
She holds an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester U.K, and a B.Sc. Economics from the University of Lagos.
Yetunde Oni (Union Bank)
Yetunde Oni is the present Managing Director of the Union Bank PLC.
She operated as the first female Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Standard Chartered Bank in Sierra Leone, a position she took in January 2021.
She has a degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan and an MBA in Business Administration from Bangor University.
Shebegan her career with Prime Merchant Bank Treasury & Money Markets Group.