A new report reveals a historic rise in female representation across Nigeria’s top corporate boardrooms, marking a major milestone in the country’s push for gender equity in leadership.
According to the 2025 PWRA NGX-30 Board Gender Diversity Scorecard, women now occupy 31.1% of board seats in Nigeria’s 30 largest listed companies—the highest since the index began tracking gender data six years ago. For the first time, no company in the NGX 30 has an all-male board.
The report also highlights that five of the top 30 firms now have female CEOs, while three companies have female board chairs, up from just one in 2024. Top performers include Transcorp Hotels Plc, Access Holdings Plc, Stanbic IBTC, UBA, Dangote Sugar, Nestle Nigeria, and Presco Plc.
Ivana Osagie, Founder and CEO of PWR Advisory, noted that these numbers are more than statistics; they are “markers of change”, demonstrating what is possible when commitment meets action. She emphasized that inclusion must go beyond representation, with women holding key decision-making positions to influence corporate strategy meaningfully.
Nigeria’s board gender diversity now surpasses the African average of 23% and the global average of 27.3%, though it trails South Africa’s 47%. Sector analysis shows Services leading with 57.1% female representation, followed by Consumer Goods (34.8%) and Conglomerates (33.3%), while financial services achieved 32.8%.
The report underlines that achieving the 30% threshold, as proposed by the Critical Mass Theory, is crucial for minorities to wield real influence. Beyond statistics, gender-diverse boards are essential for better governance, enhanced decision-making, and sustainable growth, positioning Africa as a credible player in global markets.
“This scorecard is both a mirror and a call to action,” the report concludes, challenging Nigerian companies to accelerate inclusion and empower women at the highest levels.
