Female representation on the boards of Nigeria’s 30 largest listed companies reached 31.1% in 2025, according to the latest PWR Advisory NGX-30 Board Gender Diversity Scorecard. This figure represents a steady increase from the 29.7% recorded in 2024. For the first time in the report’s six-year history, every company within the NGX-30 now has at least one woman on its board. Additionally, five of these top companies are currently led by female CEOs, while three have female board chairs.
The increase in gender diversity coincides with a landmark year for the Nigerian Exchange. The NGX All-Share Index rose by over 51% in 2025, ending the year at 155,613 points. Top-performing companies identified for their gender diversity efforts include Transcorp Hotels Plc, Access Holdings Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and United Bank for Africa Plc. While their total numbers remain small, the influence of these leaders is instrumental in guiding strategic decisions that affect millions of shareholders and stakeholders across the country.
Among the 13 women currently serving as Executive Directors within the NGX-30 is Mrs. Pamela Shodipo of Fidelity Bank Plc. Shodipo assumed her role as Executive Director of the South Directorate on February 10, 2023, following regulatory approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria. She possesses more than 25 years of multifunctional experience in the banking industry, spanning general management and leadership across key market segments.
Her career began in 1991 at International Standard Insurance Limited before she moved into the banking sector with United Commercial Bank Limited in 1992. She later joined Zenith Bank in 1997, where she rose to the rank of Assistant General Manager. In 2007, she transitioned to United Bank for Africa, holding several leadership positions including Regional Director and Managing Director/CEO of UBA Benin Republic. Before her current appointment at Fidelity Bank, she served as the Head of Personal Banking for the UBA Group.
Mrs. Shodipo holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Lagos and an MBA from the University of Wales College of Cardiff. Her professional development includes executive programs at Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School, and the University of Oxford. She is also an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. In her current capacity at Fidelity Bank, she leads the South Directorate, where she is responsible for driving customer engagement, operational growth, and strategic initiatives.
Source: Nairametrics