Nigeria’s banking sector has continued to impress in 2025, with some banks posting stable income regardless of the financial headwinds.
On the heart of this efficiency are the leaders steering these establishments, chairpersons whose imaginative and prescient, governance, and strategic selections usually decide how nicely their banks navigate challenges and seize alternatives.
For this characteristic, we checked out banks listed on the Nigerian Trade (NGX) and centered on these with the very best asset for the 9 months ended September 30, 2025.
This offers a transparent image of which leaders are driving actual monetary outcomes, not simply making headlines.
Our evaluation highlights 10 chairpersons on the helm of Nigeria’s best-performing banks.
On this roundup, we take a better take a look at the folks behind the numbers, the chairpersons whose oversight and strategic course have helped their banks develop deposits, broaden lending, and strengthen stability sheets.
From shaping coverage to driving innovation, these leaders are setting the tempo for banking excellence in Nigeria, proving that sturdy management is simply as essential as sturdy financials.
Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwayemisi Olorunshola- Chairman Wema Financial institution
Asset: N3.9 trillion
Dr. (Mrs) Oluwayemisi Olorunshola is an skilled provide chain and enterprise administration skilled with a profession spanning over 25 years throughout multinational organisations and enterprise management roles. Because the chairman she holds 3,178 direct shares.
She holds a B.Sc. in Schooling & Economics from Obafemi Awolowo College, an MBA from the College of Liverpool, UK, and a Doctorate in Enterprise Administration from Walden College, USA. Her experience covers each facet of the availability chain, together with enterprise and manufacturing planning, procurement, distribution, import/export, and logistics providers.
Dr. Olorunshola can also be a passionate advocate for training and small enterprise sustainability, with broadly cited publications in FEAcademia, Proguest.com, and Academia.edu. She is a Fellow of the Worldwide Institute for African Students and a Chartered Member of the Nigerian Chartered Institute of Personnel Administration, and she or he actively volunteers in neighborhood improvement initiatives.
She joined the Board of Wema Financial institution Plc in January 2022. Underneath her oversight, the financial institution’s stability sheet confirmed outstanding resilience, with fairness attributable to shareholders practically doubling to N512.02 billion, up from N256.42 billion.
With 13 administrators, Wema Financial institution recorded N3.59 trillion belongings in 2024, rising to N3.97 trillion by 9 months of 2025. Regardless of shareholding shifts resulting from retirements and ceased directorships, the financial institution maintains structural stability.
Oladipupo Jadesimi – Chairman FCMB GROUP PLC
Asset: N7.2 trillion
Oladipupo Jadesimi is the chairman of FCMB and at the moment holds 197,312,000 direct shares within the Group, reflecting his vital management affect and long-term dedication to the establishment.
He has served as Chairman since 2018, guiding the organisation with strategic readability and a robust governance mindset formed by many years of expertise throughout sectors. His profile combines authorized experience, finance data, and entrepreneurial management, positioning him as a revered determine in Nigeria’s company panorama.
Jadesimi earned an M.A. (Honours) in Regulation from Oxford College, the place he was a Jurisprudence Scholar from 1963 to 1966. This educational basis set the stage for his early skilled journey, starting as a Senior Accomplice with Coopers and Lybrand Lagos (now a part of PwC) between 1966 and 1970. His background in legislation and company finance has remained a central pillar in his enterprise profession.
He’s additionally the Founder and Chairman of Ladol Group, builders of Nigeria’s largest indigenous Free Zone Industrial Park, which helps main industrial and offshore operations. As well as, he chairs the board of Niger Delta Exploration and Manufacturing Plc, one of many nation’s main indigenous oil and fuel corporations.
FCMB subsidiaries embrace FCMB Capital Markets, CSL Stockbrokers, FCMB Microfinance, and Credit score Direct Finance Firm. FCMB has 60 administrators, with belongings rising from N7.05 trillion (2024) to N7.23 trillion (9 months 2025), reflecting incremental growth.
Sola David-Borha – Chairman Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc
Asset: N8.3 trillion
Sola David-Borha was appointed Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc in September 2024, following the retirement of Mr. Basil Omiyi and the completion of all regulatory approvals. Her appointment comes at a time of sturdy monetary momentum for the group, underscoring the board’s confidence in her depth of management and institutional data.
Mrs. David-Borha brings over 30 years of expertise in monetary providers throughout Africa. She retired in 2021 as Chief Govt of Normal Financial institution’s Africa Areas, after beforehand serving as Chief Govt of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and Stanbic IBTC Financial institution.
The group oversees a number of subsidiaries equivalent to Stanbic IBTC Financial institution, Pension Managers, Asset Administration, Capital, Insurance coverage, Trustees, and fintech unit Zest Funds. Stanbic recorded N6.91 trillion in belongings in 2024, rising to N8.38 trillion by 9M 2025, highlighting modest however regular progress.
An alumna of Harvard Enterprise College and the International CEO Program of CEIBS, Wharton and IESE, Mrs. David-Borha additionally serves as a Non-Govt Director on the boards of Normal Financial institution of South Africa and Normal Financial institution Group.
Mustafa Chike-Obi –Chairman Constancy Financial institution
Asset: N10.5 trillion
Mustafa Chike-Obi has been the Chairman of Constancy Financial institution since July 2020, bringing a wealth of expertise from international funding banking and asset administration. He holds a direct share of 39.5 million shares as at 2024.
Earlier than becoming a member of Constancy, he served as Govt Chairman at Alpha African Advisory and held senior positions at main establishments together with Chase Service provider Financial institution, Goldman Sachs, Shoreline Group, Bear Stearns, and Guggenheim Companions.
These roles gave him deep experience in capital markets, each in mature and rising economies, together with the event and advertising and marketing of fixed-income securities to institutional buyers. Notably, he pioneered the idea of the Treasury Division in Nigerian banking, heading the primary of its sort.
Chike-Obi holds a Bachelor’s diploma in Arithmetic and an MBA from Stanford College of Enterprise, and serves on the boards of a number of blue-chip corporations.
Underneath his management, Constancy Financial institution has demonstrated sturdy progress. Its construction contains Constancy Financial institution UK and restricted disclosed subsidiary operations. With 13 shareholders, Constancy experiences N8.82 trillion belongings (2024) rising to N10.55 trillion by 9 month 2025, indicating a progress trajectory.
Sulaiman Burau- Group Chairman Warranty Belief Holding
Asset: N16.6 trillion
Suleiman Barau was appointed Group Chairman of Warranty Belief Holding Firm Plc (GTCO) earlier within the yr, topic to regulatory approval, as a part of the group’s long-term succession planning. The appointment was introduced at GTCO’s fourth Annual Normal Assembly, marking a return to the boardroom for one in all Nigeria’s most seasoned monetary policymakers.
A former Deputy Governor of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria, Barau brings many years of expertise spanning public service, service provider banking, industrial banking, and central banking.
He was a pioneering director of GTCO following its restructuring and is broadly regarded for his deep understanding of financial coverage, monetary stability, and institutional governance.
His public service profession spanned over 18 years, together with roles as Principal Economist on the Nigerian Mining Company, Particular Adviser to the CBN Governor, Performing Managing Director of the Nigerian Safety Printing and Minting Plc, and two-term Deputy Governor earlier than retiring in 2017.
Barau assumes the chairmanship at a time of balance-sheet growth for GTCO. For the 9 months ended September 2025, the group reported revenue of N699.64 billion, reflecting a decline from the prior yr because of the absence of outstanding foreign-exchange positive aspects.
The group spans a number of international locations by way of subsidiaries together with GTBank Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and asset administration arms like GT Pension Managers and GT Fund Managers. GTCO lists 10 administrators, managing N14.79 trillion in complete belongings in 2024, rising to N16.66 trillion by 9months 2025, suggesting sustained growth and powerful market positioning.
Olufemi Otedola- Chairman FIRST HOLDCO PLC
Asset: N26.3 trillion
FBN Holdings is chaired by Olufemi Otedola, now the biggest shareholder with 1.69 billion direct and a couple of.54 billion oblique shares, gaining affect following appointments between August 2023 and January 2024.
He rose to prominence within the downstream oil and fuel sector by way of Zenon Petroleum and Fuel Restricted, earlier than buying African Petroleum Plc in 2007 and repositioning it as Forte Oil Plc. The corporate turned a benchmark for sturdy governance and operational excellence previous to his full divestment in 2019.
He subsequently deepened his long-standing dedication to the facility sector by way of Geregu Energy Plc, the place the rehabilitated 435MW plant contributes about 9% of Nigeria’s grid-available era capability.
The group contains main subsidiaries equivalent to First Financial institution of Nigeria, FBNQuest Service provider Financial institution, First Securities Brokers, and the insurance coverage arm below First Insurance coverage Brokers Restricted. With 9 administrators, FBN posted N26.52 trillion belongings in 2024, with N26.39 trillion recorded as of 9-month 2025, exhibiting relative stability throughout its restructuring and governance consolidation part.
Jim Ovia- Chairman Zenith Financial institution
Asset: N31.1 trillion
Jim Ovia, CFR, CON, MFR, is the founder and chairman of Zenith Financial institution Plc, one in all Africa’s largest banks with over $24 billion in belongings and shareholders’ funds exceeding $3 billion as of June 2022. A globally acknowledged monetary establishment, Zenith Financial institution is listed on each the London Inventory Trade and the Nigerian Inventory Trade, with main operations throughout Nigeria, West Africa, London, and Dubai.
Jim Ovia was appointed Chairman of Zenith Financial institution on July 16, 2014, following the CBN’s directive that restricted CEOs’ tenures. Ovia at the moment owns 3.5 million direct and 1.5 million oblique shares of the financial institution, making him the very best shareholder.
Ovia can also be the founder and chancellor of James Hope College, Lekki, which was lately accredited by the Nationwide Universities Fee (NUC) to supply postgraduate enterprise levels.
By way of the Jim Ovia Basis, he has championed training in Nigeria, offering scholarships to indigent college students by way of the MUSTE initiative, producing a era of pros together with accountants, attorneys, engineers, and medical doctors. He’s the creator of Africa Rise And Shine, capturing Zenith Financial institution’s journey and providing insights into doing enterprise in Africa.
An alumnus of Harvard Enterprise College (OPM), College of Louisiana (MBA), and Southern College (B.Sc. Enterprise Administration), Ovia is a member of the World Financial Discussion board Neighborhood of Chairpersons.
The financial institution’s group construction options subsidiaries throughout Africa together with Zenith Financial institution Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, in addition to the UK arm and non-banking entities like Zenith Pensions Custodian Restricted and Zenith Nominees Restricted. Zenith Financial institution experiences 14 administrators and N29.96 trillion complete belongings in 2024, rising to roughly N31.18 trillion by 9 months 2025, signaling stability sheet progress.
Tony Elumelu-Chairman UBA
Asset: N32.4 trillion
Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, stands amongst Africa’s most influential enterprise leaders, combining large-scale enterprise constructing with a deeply rooted dedication to inclusive financial improvement. Elumelu sits on a board that consists of 15 administrators. His carefully held direct shares are 195.1 million and a couple of.3 billion oblique shares.
In 2010, he based Heirs Holdings, an African funding firm with pursuits spanning monetary providers, energy era, oil and fuel, agribusiness, actual property, and hospitality. That very same yr, he established the Tony Elumelu Basis, an Africa-based and African-funded philanthropy devoted to empowering entrepreneurs throughout the continent. He at the moment serves as Chairman of Heirs Holdings, UBA Group Plc, and Transcorp Plc, Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate.
Elumelu first rose to prominence by reworking Normal Belief Financial institution, earlier than main its landmark 2005 merger with United Financial institution for Africa (UBA), creating one in all Africa’s most geographically diversified banking teams. At present, UBA operates in 20 African international locations, with a world footprint spanning New York, London, Paris, and Dubai.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, UBA Group reported a revenue after tax of N537.5 billion, up 2.3% year-on-year.
UBA operates one in all Africa’s largest pan-African networks with subsidiaries in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Senegal, Congo DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Mali, Mozambique and extra, plus UBA UK. UBA posted N30.32 trillion in belongings (2024), enhancing to N32.49 trillion by 9month 2025, reflecting the advantages of its worldwide banking footprint.
Papa Madiaw Ndiaye- Chairman ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED
Asset: N47.3 trillion
Papa Madiaw Ndiaye is the CEO and Founding Accomplice of AFIG Funds, one in all Africa’s main personal fairness fund administration companies, and was appointed Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Integrated (ETI) on June 6, 2024.
Underneath his management, AFIG Funds, the primary main African-controlled fund supervisor, oversees $270 million in belongings and focuses completely on investments in indigenous African corporations. Ndiaye additionally chairs the agency’s Funding Committee, guiding strategic course and investor relations.
Earlier than founding AFIG Funds, he was Co-Founder and Funding Director at Rising Markets Partnership (EMP, now ECP) in Washington, and beforehand served within the IFC’s funding division, the place he performed a key function in launching banks, insurance coverage corporations, and funds throughout Africa.
His early profession included stints on Wall Road at Salomon Brothers and JP Morgan’s Rising Markets Group.
He holds a joint MBA from Wharton and MA in Worldwide Affairs from the College of Pennsylvania’s Lauder Institute, in addition to a BA in Economics from Harvard.
For the yr ended September 30, 2025, the group reported a revenue after tax of N711.92 billion. Ecobank Transnational Integrated (ETI) and its subsidiaries has presence in 39 international locations and employed over 13,968 folks as at 30 September 2025. The ETI board is managed by 14 members.
AigbojeAig Imoukhuede- Chairman ACCESS HOLDINGS PLC
Asset: N52.1 trillion
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, is a distinguished investor, banker, and philanthropist whose affect spans Nigeria’s monetary markets, public sector reform, and social improvement. Because the chairman he holds 178.8 million direct shares of the financial institution and 4.8 billion oblique shares. .
He’s the co-founder of Tengen Household Workplace, the place he oversees a diversified funding portfolio, whereas his philanthropic work is anchored by the Aig-Imoukhuede Basis, the Africa Initiative for Governance, and the Aig-Imoukhuede Institute. By way of these platforms, he’s centered on strengthening public sector management, enhancing governance outcomes, and increasing entry to high quality major healthcare in Nigeria.
Aig-Imoukhuede is greatest identified for his tenure as Group Managing Director of Entry Financial institution Plc from 2002 to 2013, throughout which he led the financial institution’s transformation into one in all Nigeria’s high 5 monetary establishments. Entry Holdings Plc has a complete of 11 administrators on its board. As on the time of this report, Entry Financial institution Plc, Hydrogen Fee Providers Firm Restricted, AccessARM Pensions Restricted, Entry Insurance coverage Brokers Restricted and Oxygen X Finance Firm Restricted are in operation as subsidiaries of the Firm.
Subsidiaries throughout the group embrace Entry Financial institution Plc, Entry ARM Pensions, Hydrogen Fee Providers, and Oxygen X Finance, representing diversified monetary providers. Entry Holdings recorded N41.49 trillion in belongings (2024), advancing to N52.19 trillion in 9-month 2025, a pointy rise highlighting its aggressive progress and acquisition technique.
