8 women who were the first to lead Nigerian banks

For decades, the Nigerian banking sector has experienced a major shift from being male-dominated to powerful women leading and managing the organisation.

From being Chief Executive Officers to Managing Directors and Chairpersons, several women have not only secured top positions at leading banks but have also redefined leadership through innovation, resilience, and strategic transformation.

As the world of banking evolves from traditional to digital operations, eight women stood out in securing historic appointments as the first women to lead major roles at top Nigerian banks.

These women have built decades-long careers marked by resilience and strategic leadership that helped transform Nigeria’s financial sector. 

Based on research by Technext, here are eight women who made history as the first to lead Nigerian banks and the impact their leadership continues to have on Nigeria’s financial industry.

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1. Ibukun Awosika, the first female Chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria (2015 – 2021)

On September 7, 2015, Ibukun Awosika was appointed Chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria, becoming the first woman to lead the institution in its more than 120-year history.

She officially assumed office on January 1, 2016, and served in the role until April 2021, when she completed her tenure and was succeeded by Tunde Hassan-Odukale.

Before joining First Bank’s leadership, Awosika built her reputation in entrepreneurship and corporate governance. She started her career as an audit trainee at Akintola Williams & Co. (now Deloitte) during her NYSC before working at furniture company Alibert Nigeria Ltd. as a showroom manager.

In 1989, she founded Quebees Limited, which later evolved into The Chair Centre Group, one of Nigeria’s leading furniture manufacturing and interior solutions companies.

Beyond business, she also served on several corporate and public sector boards, including the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority and Cadbury Nigeria Plc. She joined the board of First Bank in 2008 as a Non-Executive Director before eventually becoming Chairperson in 2015.

Since leaving First Bank in 2021, Awosika has continued leading The Chair Centre Group as Founder and CEO while also serving as a global speaker, author and business mentor.

2. Osaretin Afusat Demuren, the first female Chairman of Guaranty Trust Bank (2015 – 2021)

Osaretin Afusat Demuren became the first female Chairperson of GTBank on April 1, 2015, a milestone that marked a major shift in corporate leadership within Nigeria’s banking industry. 

She served in the position until April 2021, when she retired from the board after completing her tenure and was succeeded by Hezekiah Oyinlolu Dan Okungbowa as Chairman of GTBank.

Demuren began her professional career at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 1976. Over more than three decades, she worked across several departments, including Trade and Exchange, Banking Supervision and Human Resources. 

In 1999, she became the first female Director at the Central Bank, later serving as Director of Human Resources until her retirement in 2009.

Following her retirement from the apex bank, she moved into corporate governance and board-level leadership. In 2013, she joined GTBank’s board as a Non-Executive Director and chaired the Board Risk Management Committee before becoming Chairperson in 2015.

Since leaving GTBank, Demuren has continued serving in governance and advisory capacities across Nigeria’s corporate sector. She remains recognised as one of the pioneering women who opened boardroom leadership opportunities for women in banking and financial regulation.

3. Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, the first female CEO of Citibank Nigeria (2020 – 2024)

On September 16, 2020, Ireti Samuel-Ogbu was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Country Officer of Citibank Nigeria, becoming the first woman to lead the Nigerian subsidiary of the global financial institution. 

Her appointment came during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when banks across the world were navigating economic uncertainty, changing regulations and rapid digital transformation.

Samuel-Ogbu joined Citibank in 1991 and built her career within the institution for more than three decades. Over the years, she worked across corporate banking, institutional finance and regional operations in both Nigeria and Ghana. 

Before becoming CEO, she served in senior leadership roles managing multinational client relationships and overseeing strategic banking operations across West Africa.

Her rise within Citi reflected years of experience in cross-border finance, treasury services and institutional banking at a time when few women occupied executive leadership positions in multinational banking across Africa. 

As CEO, she led Citibank Nigeria’s institutional banking operations and corporate finance services during a critical period for the financial industry.

In August 2024, Samuel-Ogbu stepped down as CEO of Citibank Nigeria and was succeeded by Nneka Enwereji, who became the new Managing Director and CEO of the bank.

Following her exit, she was appointed Board Chairperson of the Africa Finance Corporation, further strengthening her influence in Africa’s development finance and investment sector.

4. Yemisi Edun, the first female MD of FCMB (2021 till present)

Yemisi Edun became the first female Managing Director of FCMB on January 1, 2021. Prior to this, Edun was the Chief Financial Officer and later Executive Director of FCMB, overseeing finance and institutional operations.

Over the years, she became closely involved in strengthening the bank’s financial systems, governance structure and operational efficiency.

Today, Edun leads FCMB’s banking operations, digital finance strategy and long-term growth initiatives while also remaining one of the few women currently leading a commercial bank in Nigeria.

Before joining FCMB, Edun started her career at Akintola Williams Deloitte, where she worked in auditing, financial reporting and corporate compliance.

She joined FCMB in 2000 as Divisional Head of Internal Audit and Control before rising through several leadership positions in finance and operations over 26 years.

Edun holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife and a Master’s degree in International Accounting and Finance from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a CFA Charter holder. She is also an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers; an Associate Member of the Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; a Member of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, U.S.A.; and a Certified Information Systems Auditor.

5. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the first female MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank (2021 till present)

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe became the first female Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank on January 1st, 2021. Unlike leaders who spent their entire careers at a single institution, Onyeali-Ikpe’s path was built across multiple banking environments. 

She was trained as a lawyer and then transitioned into the financial sector in the early 1990s, building decades of experience in commercial, investment, and retail banking. 

Over the years, she worked with institutions such as Standard Chartered Bank, Zenith Bank, and Enterprise Bank, developing expertise in corporate finance, risk management, and business strategy.

When she joined Fidelity Bank in 2015 as an Executive Director, she brought with her years of cross-sector leadership experience that later shaped her management style. Her rise to CEO came during a period when Nigerian banks were facing rapid digital disruption, shifting customer expectations and intensifying competition in the financial sector.

Under her leadership, Fidelity Bank has strengthened its digital banking systems, expanded support for SMEs and deepened financial access initiatives across Nigeria. 

6. Miriam Olusanya, the first female Managing Director/CEO of GTBank (2021 till present)

Miriam Olusanya became the first female Managing Director and CEO of GTBank on July 12, 2021, following the bank’s restructuring under GTCO Holdings. She succeeded Segun Agbaje, who moved on to become Group CEO of GTCO Plc. 

She joined GTBank in 1998 as an executive trainee and spent more than 20 years working across different operational and strategic divisions within the bank. Before becoming CEO, she held leadership positions in transaction banking, treasury services, corporate banking and wealth management. 

She later became Executive Director in charge of the bank’s corporate banking division, where she oversaw major business portfolios and institutional client relationships.

Under her leadership, GTBank has continued expanding its digital banking infrastructure while maintaining its reputation for innovation and customer experience. 

Her journey reflects how persistence, technical expertise and years of internal leadership development can prepare women to lead some of Africa’s most competitive financial institutions.

7. Adaora Umeoji, the first female Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank (2024 till present)

On June 1, 2024, Adaora Umeoji officially assumed office as the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, becoming the first woman to lead the bank since its establishment in 1990. Her appointment marked one of the most significant leadership transitions in Nigeria’s banking industry.

Umeoji’s leadership story was shaped almost entirely within Zenith Bank itself. She joined the bank in 1998 and has spent more than two decades rising through different operational and executive positions. From branch leadership to strategic corporate management roles, she steadily built a reputation for discipline, institutional loyalty and operational excellence.

Before becoming CEO, she served as Deputy Managing Director at Zenith Bank, where she played a major role in shaping the bank’s corporate strategy, expansion efforts and customer-focused initiatives.

Her promotion reflected years of internal leadership development and a deep understanding of Zenith Bank’s culture and long-term vision. 

8. Bolaji Agbede, the first female Acting Group CEO of Access Holdings (2024 – 2025)

On February 12, 2024, Bolaji Agbede was appointed as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, becoming the first woman to lead the company. Her appointment came after the death of former Group CEO Herbert Wigwe, placing her at the helm of one of Nigeria’s largest financial institutions during a critical transition period.

Agbede began her banking career at GTBank in 1992, where she worked in operations and commercial banking before rising to a managerial level. In 2003, she joined Access Bank as an Assistant General Manager and became part of the institution’s long-term growth journey. 

For over 27 years, she worked across human resources, business support and corporate operations, helping manage workforce integration, organisational restructuring and internal operations during major expansion phases.

Her appointment as Acting Group CEO in 2024 reflected more than 20 years of experience within the organisation and deep institutional knowledge of the bank’s operations. Currently, she works as the Head of HR at Access Bank Plc, a role she has held since 2010.

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