Meet 11 female leaders of Nigerian banks in 2024

In this article, News360 Nigeria enumerates top 11 female leaders of Nigerian banks in 2024.

The finance industry has grown to be the backbone of the nation because it distributes and manages funds for individuals, organizations, and the government.

The industry is expanded to include asset management, banking, credit, and investing, among other branches.

Women have risen in various financial fields to demonstrate their worthiness for assignments they are assigned over the years as a result of the fierce fight for gender equality between men and women.

Despite the difficulties they face in carrying out their responsibilities, these women strive for success.

Preview of top female leaders of Nigerian banks

1. Adaora Umeoji (Zenith Bank)
2. Bolaji Agbede (Access Bank)
3. Miriam Olusanya (GT Bank)
4. Yemisi Edun (FCMB)
5. Halima Buba (SunTrust Bank)
6. Ireti Samuel-Ogbu (Citibank)
7. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (Fidelity Bank)
8. Tomi Somefun (Unity Bank)
9. Kafilat Araoye (Lotus Bank)
10. Bukola Smith (FSDH Merchant Bank)
11. Yetunde Oni (Union Bank)

Adaora Umeoji (Zenith Bank)

As of June 2024, Dr. Adaora Umeoji took the helm of leadership as Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO).
She also sits as the bank’s first female leader since its inception.

Umeoji has nearly thirty years of banking experience, of which twenty-six have been with Zenith Bank.

Prior to this appointment, she served as the bank’s deputy managing director in October 28, 2016.

Her educational background includes completion of esteemed programs at Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School, and MIT Management Sloan School.

She also possesses multiple degrees, including a doctorate in business administration.

Bolaji Agbede (Access Bank)

Bolaji Agbede was named as the acting group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc on Monday, February 12th, 2024.

Her appointment followed the passing of the company’s late Group Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, who died in an helicopter crash.

Prior to being appointed the company’s founding Executive Director, Business Support in 2022, she held a number of positions at the bank, including Head, Group Human Resources from 2010 to 2022.

Miriam Olusanya (GT Bank)

Miriam Olusanya serves as Guaranty Trust Bank’s managing director. She is recognized as the first woman to hold the position.

She started in July 2021 and holds a pharmacy degree from the University of Ibadan as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Liverpool.

Prior to her current position, she was the bank’s Executive Director.

Yemisi Edun (FCMB)

Yemisi Edun is the managing director/chief executive officer of First City Monument Bank, a position she has held since July 2021. She is also the organization’s first female CEO.

She graduated with 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 Certified Financial Analyst.

She also holds associate memberships in the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, and the Information Systems Audit and Control.

Halima Buba (SunTrust Bank)

Halima Buba, an Adamawa-based business expert and banker, currently serves as Sun Trust Bank plc’s Managing Director and CEO.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from the University of Maiduguri.

She graduated from Lagos Business School and is an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers as well as a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants.

She took over this position in January 2021, having previously served as Ecobank Nigeria’s deputy general manager.

Ireti Samuel-Ogbu (Citibank)

Ireti Samuel-Ogbu is Citibank’s first female CEO.

She worked at the lender’s London office as the managing director of payments and receivables, treasury, and trade solutions for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

She has spent decades working in the finance industry, and she will use her knowledge and experience to create better bank policies.

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (Fidelity Bank)

The first female chief executive officer and managing director of Fidelity Bank Nigeria is Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe.

Originally from Awka in Anambra State, she attended the Federal Government Girls’ College while growing up in Owerri, Imo State.

She graduated from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka with a law degree. She also graduated with a master’s in law from King’s College London.

In January 2015, she began working for Fidelity Bank PLC as an executive director, and in December 2020, she was promoted to managing director.

Tomi Somefun (Unity Bank)

Oluwatomi Somefun is Unity Bank plc’s managing director and chief executive officer at the moment.

She graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun state, in 1981 with a B.Ed. in English language.

She also attended Harvard Business School and University of Columbia Business School in New York.

Prior to joining Unity Bank plc as an executive director, she began her career with Peat Marwick and Co. and subsequently transferred to Arthur Andersen (now KPMG).

Kafilat Araoye (Lotus Bank)

Kafilat Araoye is an accomplished financial specialist with years of expertise working with various financial institutions.

She oversees Lotus Bank Plc as its Managing Director.

She earned an M.Sc. in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management from the University of Lagos and a degree in history from the University of Ife, which is now known as Obafemi Awolowo University.

She also has certifications in Islamic finance from the Islamic Research & Training Institute, the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment/Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance, and the Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance.

She holds honorary memberships in both the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (ICAN) as Fellows.

She received her B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Lagos and her MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.

Bukola Smith (FSDH Merchant Bank)

Bukola Smith has served as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FSDH Merchant Bank since April 2021.

Her previous role was Executive Director of Business Development at First City Monument Bank, where she had worked since 2006 and held a number of other leadership roles.

She holds honorary membership in the Chartered Institute of Bankers and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (ICAN).

She graduated with a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Lagos and an MBA from the Alliance Manchester Business School at the University of Manchester, U.K.

Yetunde Oni (Union Bank)

Yetunde Oni is the current Managing Director of Union Bank PLC.

She was appointed the first female Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank in Sierra Leone in January 2021.

She graduated from the University of Ibadan with a degree in Economics and Bangor University with an MBA in Business Administration.