From Lagos to Kigali, women are steadily reshaping Africa’s financial landscape, leading some of the continent’s largest and most influential banks.

According to an analysis by Finance in Africa, Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation, stands out with nine women at the top of major institutions, including Adaora Umeoji of Zenith Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe of Fidelity Bank, and Yemisi Edun of First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

In Kenya, leaders such as Annastacia Kimtai of KCB Bank Kenya and Nasim Devji of Diamond Trust Bank are redefining what leadership in East Africa’s banking industry looks like. South Africa’s FirstRand, Egypt’s Kuwait Finance House, and Rwanda’s Bank of Kigali also count women at the helm, signaling a broader shift towards gender diversity in African boardrooms.

In economic participation and opportunity, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) ranks fifth, with a score of 67.5%, marking a 4.8 percentage-point improvement since 2006, according to the latest Global Gender Gap report by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Read more at: https://financeinafrica.com/insights/female-taking-helm-of-africas-banking-sector/