The Nigerian business space is undoubtedly dominated by men; however, the women have been doing remarkably well in the last couple of years. Nigerian women have not only taken giant strides in the Nigerian business space, they have dominated the African business space. The names listed in this article are some of the many Nigerian businesswomen who are making waves in the business world in 2023.
Top 10 Nigerian Businesswomen You Should Know
These women are pacesetters, inspiration and role models to women all over the world. Here is the list of the Top 10 Nigerian Business Women in 2023.
1. Folorunsho Alakija
Folorunsho Alakija is a household name in Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Listed as the richest woman in Nigeria and the second-richest woman in Africa, the 72 year-old billionaire is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil exploration and production company.
She is Nigeria’s first female billionaire with a net worth of $1.1 billion. Aside from chairing Famfa Oil, she is also the Group Managing Director of The Rose of Sharon Group which consists of The Rose of Sharon Prints & Promotions Limited and Digital Reality Prints Limited.
2. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The Amazon Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is one of Nigeria’s foremost businesswomen. Okonjo-Iweala born in 1954, and former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy became the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization as Director-General.
Aside from managing the affairs of the world’s business hub, she is also a board member of notable corporations like Danone, Standard Chartered Bank, MINDS: Mandela Institute for Development Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, One Campaign, GAVI: Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, Rockefeller Foundation, R4D: Results for Development, ARC: African Risk Capacity and Earthshot Prize among others.
3. Ibukun Awosika
Chairing the largest bank by assets in Nigeria is another successful Nigerian business woman Ibukun Awosika. Awosika is the Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and also the non-executive director of MTN Nigeria, PZ Cussons Nigeria and other companies in the country.
The Ibadan-born businesswoman is not just a businesswoman but also an author, founder, corporate executive, actor etc. She became known to the millennial when she starred in the 2020 movie Citation.
4. Hajia Bola Shagaya
Born on 10 October 1959, Hajia Bola Shagaya is a fashion enthusiast and one of the leading women in the Nigerian business space. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bolmus Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with interests in oil and gas, photography, banking, real estate, and hospitality.
5. Fifi Ejindu
One of the largest media and marketing agencies in Nigeria Starcom Media is owned by a Nigerian woman; Fifi Ejindu. A philanthropist dedicated to elevating and helping the girl-child, Princess Fifi is also the founder of the Fifi Ejindu Foundation, a non-profit organization that gives educational and vocational training to young women in Nigeria.
6. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe
Another Nigerian woman making waves in the Nigerian banking sector is Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe. Born on July 28, 1964, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe is the first female Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of one of Nigeria’s largest commercial banks Fidelity Bank Plc.
7. Miriam Chidiebele Olusanya
The Nigerian banking sector is gradually being taken over by Nigerian women and leading the line is another Nigerian female banker Miriam Chidiebele Olusanya. She is the first female Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, a financial holding company with interests in banking, investment banking, and asset management. Remarkably, she rose through the ranks of GTB after joining as an executive trainee in 1988.
8. Tara Fela-Durotoye
Tara Fela-Durotoye is the wife of Fela-Durotoye, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Values & Social Justice. However, she is mostly known for her House of Tara International, a Nigerian beauty and cosmetics company.
Tara Fela-Durotoye is a lawyer and a beauty entrepreneur who is widely for pioneering the bridal makeup profession in Nigeria. She started the first bridal directory in Nigeria in 1999 with a world-standard makeup studio and the first makeup school in Nigeria.
9. Halima Aliko Dangote
The name Halima Aliko Dangote will ring a bell because of Nigeria and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote. Halima Aliko Dangote is not just the second daughter of Aliko Dangote but also the Group Executive Director of Dangote Industries Limited, a Nigerian multinational industrial conglomerate.
Aside from her directorial role, she is also a board member of Dangote Group, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Endeavor Nigeria, and a member of Women Corporate Directors and president of the board of the Africa Centre in New York
10. Mojúbàoluwa Aderemi-Makinde
She is the only woman on this list who has made a name in the tech world. Mojúbàoluwa Aderemi-Makinde serves as the Regional Head of Brand and Reputation for Google in Africa. Mojolaoluwa sits on the board of several bodies and has been recognized as one of the 40 Leading Ladies driving the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.
