Pamela Shodipo's Rise Reflects Nigeria's Slow Shift in Corporate Leadership

Across Nigeria's top publicly listed companies, one might expect to find boardrooms filled with diverse voices and perspectives. In reality, only a small number of women currently hold executive positions shaping corporate governance.

The NGX-30 refers to the 30 largest and most liquid (frequently traded) companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).

According to the 2025 PWR Advisory NGX-30 Board Gender Diversity Scorecard, women now hold 31.1% of board seats among the top 30 listed companies, up from 29.7% in 2024.

While their numbers remain few, their influence is unmistakable, guiding strategic decisions that affect millions of shareholders, employees, and industry stakeholders across the country.

In a sector defined by rapid change and competitive pressures, their contributions are critical to sustaining growth, managing risk, and setting benchmarks for corporate governance across Nigeria's top-listed companies.

Though much of their work happens behind the scenes, the outcomes are clear. In 2025, the NGX All-Share Index, which tracks the performance of the companies listed on the exchange, hit a record high of 155,613 points by year-end, finishing up more than 51% and solidifying its position among the best-performing emerging and frontier market exchanges globally.

These leaders are not just present in the boardroom, they are driving results, shaping policy, and setting benchmarks for operational excellence.

Here are the 13 female executive directors of Nigeria's top 30 publicly listed companies

Mrs. Pamela Shodipo is the Executive Director in charge of the South Directorate at Fidelity Bank Plc, a role she assumed following regulatory approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria on 10 February 2023.

She has more than 25 years of cross-border and multifunctional experience in the banking industry, spanning general management, business origination, and leadership across key market segments.

She began her career in 1991 at International Standard Insurance Limited, then joined United Commercial Bank Limited in 1992. She moved to Zenith Bank in 1997, rising to Assistant General Manager by 2007.

In 2007, she joined United Bank for Africa (UBA), where she held multiple leadership roles, including Regional Director, General Manager, and Managing Director/CEO of UBA Benin Republic. Before joining Fidelity Bank, she was Head of Personal Banking for UBA Group, overseeing Nigeria and Africa.

Pamela holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Lagos and an MBA from the University of Wales College of Cardiff. She has completed executive programmes at Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School, and the University of Oxford, and is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

At Fidelity Bank, she leads the South Directorate, driving customer engagement, operational growth, and strategic initiatives across the bank's business segments.