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BUSINESS

9 Female CEOs of Top Banks in Nigeria

January 11, 2024 • 3 min read

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso on Thursday, January 11, appointed new executives to oversee the affairs of Union, Keystone, and Polaris banks.

This is coming hours after the CBN dissolved the boards and managements of Union Bank of Nigeria, Keystone Bank and Polaris Bank over alleged corporate governance infractions and non-compliance with regulatory requirements.

Announcing the new development in a statement issued by the acting director of Corporate Communication at the CBN, Sidi Ali Hakama, the newly appointed executives are set to assume their roles with immediate effect.

The Yoruba Times list nine female Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of leading banks in Nigeria seven of whom are Yoruba.

Here are nine female CEOs of top banks in Nigeria

  1. Miriam Olusanya (GT Bank):

Miriam Olusanya is the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, the first woman to ever hold the position. She assumed this position in July 2021. She is a graduate of Pharmacy from the University of Ibadan and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Liverpool.

  1. Yemisi Edun (FCMB):

Yemisi Edun is the managing director/chief executive officer of First City Monument Bank, the first woman to ever hold the position. She assumed this position in July 2021 after the suspension of Adam Nuhu.

  1. Halima Buba (SunTrust Bank):

Halima Buba is a Nigerian businesswoman and banker from Adamawa state. She currently serves as the Managing Director and CEO of SunTrust Bank plc.

  1. Ireti Samuel-Ogbu (Citibank):

Ireti Samuel-Ogbu is the MD/CEO of Citibank Nigeria Limited since September 2020. She is the first female CEO of the bank.

  1. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (Fidelity Bank):

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe is a Nigerian business executive and banker. She is the first female managing director and chief executive officer of Fidelity Bank Nigeria.

  1. Tomi Somefun (Unity Bank):

Oluwatomi Somefun is a Nigerian businesswoman and banker. She currently serves as the Managing Director and CEO of Unity Bank plc.

  1. Kafilat Araoye (Lotus Bank):

Kafilat Araoye is currently a Managing Director and CEO at LOTUS Bank, bringing experience from previous roles at XYZ Outsourcing and Management Consulting Limited and GTBank. Kafilat Araoye holds a 1986 – 1987 Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management at the University of Lagos.

  1. Bukola Smith (FSDH Merchant Bank):

She is Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FSDH Merchant Bank in April 2021. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and an Associate Member of the Certified Institute of Pensions (Nigeria). She emerged as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer in April 2021.

  1. Yetunde Oni (Union Bank):

Yetunde Oni is the new MD/CEO of Union Bank. She replaces Mudassir Amray, the former CEO of the bank.

Oni is an experienced banker in emerging markets with over 29 years of expertise in client solutions, relationship management, team leadership, and talent development. Until her appointment with Union Bank,

She was the first female Managing Director and CEO at Standard Chartered Bank in Sierra Leone.