Meet 10 influential women leading Stockbroking firms in Nigeria

The complexities of the equity and stock market systems have traditionally been perceived as male-dominated.

However, in a landscape characterized by the ebb and flow of profit and loss, influenced by public perception, government policies, and investor confidence, women are now taking the lead.

Unfazed by rising inflation, interest rate hikes, and market uncertainties, these female leaders bring over a decade of experience to the financial ecosystem.

While the stock market’s dynamics remain fluid and somewhat volatile, these influential women are redefining what leadership means in an inclusive and diverse industry.

They transcend stereotypical professional norms without compromising on standards and quality, particularly in a market like Nigeria, filled with potential but marked by occasional setbacks.

For instance, on August 29, 2023, the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) achieved a historic milestone as its All-Share Index (ASI) surged to a new all-time high of 66,490.34 points, surpassing the previous record set in 2008.

This resurgence was a stark contrast to the 2008 bubble that burst due to the global financial crisis and collapsing oil prices, plunging the ASI from 57,990 points to 20,827 points.

Since then, the market has struggled to recover, with cumulative losses of -11.6% from 2007 to 2022.

Against this backdrop, we introduce the top 10 influential female leaders at the helm of stockbroking/ wealth management firms as CEOs and Executive Directors in 2023, shedding light on their contributions to the industry.

Tinuade Awe, the current Chief Executive Officer of NGX Regulation Limited, boasts an impressive career in the financial and legal sectors.

Before assuming her current role, she served as the General Counsel and Head of the Legal and Regulation Division at The Exchange.

Notably, she also acted as the Secretary to the National Council of The Exchange from January 2011 to October 2015. Her career spans over 25 years.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) All-Share Index appreciated by 29.52% to close at 66,382.14 index points in the third quarter of 2023. This development pushed the market to its 15-year high on the back of strong positive sentiments.

Tumi Sekoni is the Managing Director of FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited. She is also a Non-Executive Director of FMDQ Clear Limited, FMDQ Depository Limited and iQx Consult Limited.

Fiona Ahimie, the Managing Director of FBNQuest Securities and the first-ever female Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), possesses a distinguished background in investment banking. Her journey began at Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers. In 2014, she joined FBNQuest Capital as the Head of Sales Trading and a member of the International/Local Institutional Client Sales Team.

With over two decades of experience in financial services, Samirah Ade-Adebiyi currently holds the position of Managing Director at AFEX Investment Limited. Her expertise spans various areas, including operations, treasury, corporate, commercial, and retail banking.

Eniola Osula is a versatile investment professional with a strong track record.

Her career began in the media industry, where she served as an Analyst and Portfolio Manager covering financial and energy sectors of national interest for newspapers at Centre Point Investment Limited.

She went on to assume the role of Senior Investment Officer at Skyview Capital Limited before joining Greenwich Securities Limited.

Vanessa Ijeoma Amaechi is the Managing Director, Futureview Securities Limited, a Dealing Member firm of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and a subsidiary of Futureview Group.