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The Nigerian banking industry took the theme of the 2024 International Women’s Day mantra, ‘Inspire Inclusion’ to heart. The patriarchy dominates the Nigerian banking industry with over 60% male CEOs. Even with the recent nominations, only 36% of women are banks’ CEO. Further, recent appointments of females point to us that the Nigerian banking industry is including more women in leadership roles.
The place of women in the banking industry has passed the roles of cashiers, cleaners, receptionists, bank tellers, and customer service representatives. They are up for the big games. Women have more to do in the banking industry rather than menial jobs. The human mind is the same in its wiring only the anatomical makeup makes us male and female.
The only banking matriarch we had was Ibukun Awosika who was the first female Chairperson of the First Bank of Nigeria. Now, we have more matriarchs in the banking system to look up to. Till we reach the full attainment of gender equality in all sectors, the struggle continues.
The recent appointments of women as leaders in the Nigerian banking industry have brought to limelight other female leaders in the industry. Let us fan the fame of prominent women in the Nigerian Banking Industry. Here are our top 5 picks;
1. Aishah Ahmad
Aishah Ahmad served as the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for six years. She was the Deputy Governor for the Financial System Stability. She is one of the queens of the Nigerian banking industry. She was a member of the CBN Governing Board, Monetary Policy Committee, Financial System Stability Committee, and the Committee of Governors. Before her appointment in 2017, she was the Executive Director, of Retail Bank, Diamond Bank Plc.
The 48-year-old banker has been in the banking industry since 2001 gathering expertise from so many financial institutions. The former deputy governor has served in financial institutions such as Zenith Bank Group, First Interstate Bank (Nigeria) Plc, and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. The accomplished banker served different roles in these institutions with other assignments at the Bank of New York and Synesix Financial Limited.
The Economic Development Certificate recipient has acquired degrees ranging from Bachelor’degree to PPh.D.degree in the financial field. Aishah Ahmad is also into humanitarian ventures. The former Deputy Governor has been volunteering as the Chairperson of the Board for SOS Children’s Village since 2017. She has also been the Chairperson of the Executive Council for the Women in Management Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) since 2001.
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She currently serves as the Chairperson of the boards of the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBS), the Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX), and the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC).
2. Yemisi Edun
Yemisi Edun has been the managing director of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) since 2021. She has been recently conferred with the prestigious Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. The financial virtuoso is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers. She also has the position of an Associate Member of Taxation of Nigeria.
She joined FCMB in 2000 as Divisional Head of Internal Audit and Control. Under her watch, FCMB has empowered 50,000 women-owned businesses through its SheVentures proposition. The bank has also upscaled its output in lending loans to the public. FCMB has received so many awards under her reign.
The chemistry graduate maneuvered her way into the finance world. She has a Master’s degree in International Accounting and Finance from the University of Liverpool, UK. She is an expert in Finance, Taxation, Audit, and Internal Control.
3. Adaora Umeji
Dame Dr. Umeoji was announced as the next Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc recently. Her appointment made her the flagbearer for the first female GMD since the establishment of Zenith Bank Plc. The astute financial leader has been the Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc since 2016. She has been serving in Zenith Bank Plc for over 26 years now. Adaora has an experience of close to 30 years in the banking sector.
Following her appointment, Adaora’s academic accomplishments have been made known to the public. Adaora holds three Bachelor’s degrees in the fields of Accounting, Sociology, and Law respectively. Furthering her education, she has two Master’s degrees in Law and Business Administration. She has a PhD degree in Business Administration. She is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School and Columbia Business School.
The effervescent banker has certifications in Economics and Business Management. In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria bestowed on her the position of the Officer of the Order of Niger.
As an altruist, she engages in philanthropic and humanitarian ventures. The successful banker is a Peace Advocate of the UN. She was bestowed with the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2023. She is the founder of the Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation and Adorable Foundation.
4. Bolaji Agbede
Bolaji’s appointment as a bank CEO was the first to come up this year. Following the death of Herbert Wigwe, the tenacious banker was appointed as the first female acting group chief executive officer of Access Holdings. Bolaji started her professional career 27 years ago gathering expertise in Human Resources, management, customer relationship management, and banking operations.
Since her first position at Guaranty Trust Bank, the acting bank CEO has been climbing her career ladder swiftly and diligently. The financial veteran joined Access Bank in 2003 as an Assistant General Manager. She has also served as the Head of HR for the financial institution.
Agbede is a graduate of Mathematics and Statistics and has a Masters degree in Business Administration. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Management UK.
5. Oluwatomi Somefun
Tomi Somefun is the current Managing Director and CEO of Unity Bank, a position which she has been holding since 2015. The graduate of English is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School and University of Columbia Business School, New York. She has over thirty years of firsthand experience in Commercial and Investment Banking, Financial and Business Consulting Audit, and Accounting Services.
The CEO holds crucial positions in Boards of Financial and Education Institutions. She has attended several trainings and conferences related to finance and the business world. The Managing Director has served in different positions in the banking world. She was the Managing Director of UBA Capital and Trust Limited from 2004-2005. Oluwatomi was also the founding Managing Director of UBA Pension Custodian in 2005.
The list of female financial maestros is considerably long but an exhaustible one. We look forward to seeing more female finance leads. We are rooting for them!
It would be bliss to see other sectors manifest the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, ‘Inspire Inclusion’.
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