Introduction
Another year has (almost) rolled by. 2024 is the first full year after what, for Nigeria, could be best described as a history-redefining year for Nigeria’s politics and economy. The General Elections of 2023 ushered in a President with an appetite for bold, make-or-mar decisions that shook every aspect of life in the country.
It all started when the President, in his inauguration speech, announced the removal of fuel subsidy and promised to re-channel the savings from it into “better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.” He followed the subsidy withdrawal one month later with the floatation of the foreign exchange rate. As expected, the markets went wild instantly. The pump price of petroleum products tripled, or quadrupled in some cases, with all other market prices and costs skyrocketing in tandem.
By the time the federal cabinet was constituted three months after the president’s inauguration, the consequences had stretched the country’s business managers and leaders beyond the limits of their capacity, resilience and perseverance. The inclement business environment created by those policies forced so many businesses to cut back their operations, shelve investment plans or shut down completely.
But a number of CEOs saw opportunities and avenues for innovations in the hostile operating environment which they took advantage of to grow their bottom line and reputation. These are the true business leaders whom we celebrate in this edition of the Top 10 Magazine in line with our annual tradition.
However, this year’s edition focuses on women CEOs in celebration of the individuals who have not only navigated their organizations through the complexities of today’s world but have also redefined the standards of excellence and corporate responsibility. These CEOs stand out for their strategic vision, transformative leadership, and relentless drive to create impact beyond the bottom line.
In selecting those featured here, we considered not just financial achievements but also innovation, inclusivity, sustainability, and the ability to inspire change within their industries and communities. From reshaping the digital economy to leading breakthroughs in manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and beyond, these leaders are charting a course toward a future that is both dynamic and inclusive.
The following pages tell the full story.
LOLA ANDY-Founder /CEO, Deeutensils
Mrs. Lois Andrew (known as Lola Andy), born on 7th November 1982, is an accomplished entrepreneur from Plateau State, Nigeria. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Deeutensils, a company specializing in luxury kitchenware.
Lola Andy has a strong educational background that has significantly influenced her business acumen. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, a Diploma in Computer Science, and a Diploma in French. These diverse educational qualifications have equipped her with the skills necessary for modern business management that meets international standards.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Lola Andy spent over 11 years working with the Federal Ministry of Environment under the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria. She voluntarily resigned from her position to dedicate herself fully to her business endeavors.
Founded by Lola Andy, Deeutensils provides high-quality kitchen utensils that meet global standards, transforming kitchens into modern, unique, and simple environments. In addition to its product offerings, the company provides training for private and government kitchen custodians on maintaining an ideal kitchen environment.
The company has experienced substantial growth over the past 13 years, expanding to five branches in Abuja, Nigeria. It is renowned for its luxurious kitchenware, maintaining strict quality control mechanisms in collaboration with international partners. Through Deeutensils, Lola Andy has demonstrated that world-class kitchen utensils can be obtained locally, establishing a strong presence in the luxury kitchenware market.
Deeutensils is highly regarded by Nigerian celebrities and is celebrated as a leading luxury kitchen utensil provider in Nigeria. Deeutensils boasts of hundreds of thousands of followers globally, reflecting the brand’s extensive impact and popularity. The company’s success story highlights Lola Andy’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
Deeutensils is deeply involved in activities covering staff development and welfare, customer satisfaction, civic responsibilities and corporate social responsibility for different groups in the society.
She has received numerous awards locally and internationally, recognizing her contributions to the kitchenware industry.
Mrs. Lola Andy has been selected as a Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her company, Deeutensils, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
Patience Dappa (Barr. Mrs.)-Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Masters Energy Group
Barr. Mrs. Patience Dappa is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of Masters Energy Group, a leading conglomerate with interests spanning oil and gas, power, exploration, renewable energy, logistics, manufacturing, and real estate. With over 15 years of dedicated service within the organization, she has risen through the ranks from her initial role as Head of Legal and Human Resources to the helm of the company, where her visionary leadership and strategic insight have propelled Masters Energy into new frontiers of growth and innovation.
Barr. (Mrs.) Dappa was appointed Acting Group Managing Director/CEO, of Masters Energy following the resignation of the President and founder of the company, Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, in 2019 to contest the Abia State governorship poll and subsequent appointment as a Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari. She was later confirmed substantive GMD/CEO following her satisfactory performance when she held sway.
Barr. (Mrs) Dappa has been a pillar of support to Dr. Ogah since the return of the latter to the company after his ministerial stint. She has been leading the company management to implement major investment and expansionist moves. For most of 2024, Masters Energy has been positioning to expand its business, increase presence in the Nigerian market and ultimately achieve an exponential revenue growth through massive investment, partnerships, and new products. The repositioning has given birth to new and enhanced operations as well as new products and services.
Barr. (Mrs.) Dappa was well prepared for the leadership role she’s playing as the GMD/CEO of Masters Energy . She brought nearly three decades of extensive legal experience to the role. She began her career at Alegeh& Associates, where she honed her expertise in property law, company law, and litigation. She later transitioned to serve as Company Secretary & Legal Adviser at T & A Management Consults before founding her law firm, Pat Dappa& Associates, which gained a reputation for excellence in legal advisory services.
Her professional qualifications are extensive. Patience is a Chartered Arbitrator and a highly respected member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). She is also affiliated with the International Bar Association and the Nigerian Bar Association, further solidifying her influence within the global legal community. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration. Her academic background is just as impressive, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Calabar, and multiple Master’s degrees in Law and Humanitarian Studies from the University of Lagos, as well as Maritime Law from the Metropolitan University in London. She has also undertaken executive education programmes at top global institutions, including the Lagos Business School, Queen’s School of Business, Canada, the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, and Cambridge Judge Business School, UK.
Patience’s commitment to professional development extends beyond the classroom. She has participated in numerous global seminars and workshops on subjects such as risk management in oil and gas, LNG operations, and advanced advocacy skills, which have further enriched her expertise in navigating the complexities of the energy sector.
Her legal acumen is underscored by her significant contributions to constitutional law, notably when she was invited by the Delta State Government to participate in the review of its constitution in 2005. This landmark involvement reflects her commitment to nation-building and governance.
Outside the boardroom, Patience Dappa is passionate about philanthropy. She is actively involved in several charitable initiatives aimed at uplifting underprivileged communities and empowering women and youth. Her belief in social responsibility is exemplified by her membership of several progressive associations and advocacy groups focused on societal development. She’s an active donor to several faith-based non-profit organizations.
Respected for her leadership and legal expertise, Patience is also a sought-after speaker at key industry events and forums, where she shares her insights on leadership, energy, and legal practice. Her influence is not confined to Nigeria but resonates across international platforms, where she champions the advancement of women in leadership and advocates for best practices in the energy sector.
Patience Dappa resides in Lagos, Nigeria, with her family, where she continues to inspire many through her professional accomplishments, philanthropy, and dedication to continuous learning and development.
Barr. (Mrs.) Patience Dappa has been selected as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her company, Masters Energy Group which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
Ehi Ogbebor-Chief Executive Officer, Sayaveth Interiors & Hotels
Ehizogie Ogbebor is the founder and CEO of Sayaveth Interiors & Hotels. Born and raised in Benin, the capital of Edo State, Ehi, as she is called for short, had her primary and secondary education in Benin City before moving to Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, where she earned a degree in Microbiology. Ehi discovered she had a passion for interior decoration while still in school.
After graduation, she worked for eight years for an insurance company as a marketing executive. She left the company to pursue her passion and a career in interior decoration, beginning with painting and furnishing homes and offices for people. Her career breakthrough came in 2012 when she got a contract to decorate and furnish a 4,000-square metre building with 11 living rooms owned by a Nigerian lawmaker in Imo State. She made a very good success of the project, which took her a year to complete. Ehi’s commendable delivery of that job generated referrals that brought in more jobs from other clients, and, over a couple of years, she achieved immense success in her business and became one of the most successful young female internal decorators in Nigeria.
With the growth of her business, Ehi launched her first showroom in Victoria Garden City, Lagos. She later bought a small house designed and furnished to serve as her mini showroom, which helped her gain more referrals.
Today, her brand, Sayaveth Interiors & Hotels, has grown exponentially to become one of Nigeria’s biggest interior decoration brands. Her clients are mostly Nigerian politicians, top government officials, and wealthy entrepreneurs. She has become a household name among the crème de la crème of the society.
Ehi’s success was driven by a combination of passion, innovation, determination and self-development. She read a lot about interior decor online because she felt it was very easy to educate oneself if there was passion and intelligence. After a while, she went for some courses in wall finishing, designing, etc. to perfect her skills. Armed with the determination to break the norm, Ehi decided not to do the regular furnishing seen in most parts of the country. Thus, her outfit, Sayaveth, was one of the few companies that pioneered finishing to furnishing approach to interior decoration in Nigeria. Now, the company has partners abroad that it works with; it specifies what it wants and the foreign partners produce it. However, it produces 100 percent locally commercial furnishing jobs like hotels, restaurants, clubs, saloons, etc.
Ehi decided to go into hotels business for two reasons. “I just needed to go into it because some clients usually ask to see spaces we’ve beautified and taking them into people’s private properties seemed inappropriate. Sometimes too, they are in need of places to lodge when they come to Lagos to see us. That inspired the decision to venture into the hospitality industry in 2016,” she explained.
Despite the typical challenges of running a business in Nigeria, such as escalating exchange rate and cost of goods and services, Ehi remains resilient, holding the firm belief that “nothing is a barrier” for her.
Ehizogie Ogbebor is named as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her company, Sayaveth Interiors & Hotels, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
JOY OSIFO-President/Founder, JENIKS Group
Princess Joy Osifo, born June 10, 1981, is the President/Founder of JENIKS Group and the Princess Foundation (The Helping Hands Home). She studied law and later obtained a Masters of Business Administration degree in Business Law and completed professional courses at Harvard and in Cyprus.
Osifo worked as a banker for a few years, rising to the managerial level in two Nigerian banks in Abuja and Port Harcourt. She was mentored by one of Nigeria’s top bankers, known for his intelligence and strict adherence to business rules. She eventually left banking to establish Jeniks Group, an oil and gas company. Founded in 2011, Jeniks Energy Group has been a big player in the oil and gas industry. The group has key hubs in Ghana, Kenya, and Dubai, and recently expanded its strategic partnership with Qatar Gas conglomerate, a global gas investment firm with the strategic Gas reserve and aggregation investment contract and Qatari representation.
The corporation has anchored the contract in Africa, having agreed to a phased operation in 2022. For proper coordination of the multibillion-dollar operation, Jeniks has chosen and begun with 11 African countries, with Ghana as the base.
Princess Osifo has been working with a team of experts and consultants in the energy sector to actualise this massive gas investment deal worth $15 billion, with the Qatar group investing an initial $6 billion for the take-off of the projects that have attracted Governments of Ghana, Kenya, and several others who have already keyed into the project by agreeing to provide the enabling environment and other incentives.
The Qatar Government Investment has prioritised gas reserve acquisition, Liquefied Natural Gas, and LPG projects in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Gabon, Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
The Qataris are interested in the Brass LNG project in Nigeria’s Bayelsa State, which is a project of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its Joint Venture Partners, as well as the acquisition of LNG boats for gas cargo transport.
The selection of Jeniks Group as partners in this project is a significant endorsement of the company’s emerging corporate leadership of the Africa gas and energy market as envisioned by the Qatari partners who prefer a private sector-led initiative to get the project off the ground.
Since 2021, Jeniks Group had established its West Africa Headquarters in Accra, Ghana, and another investment office in the United Arab Emirates to coordinate activities between the Qatar Group and some important Middle Eastern areas.
This initiative has come at a crucial moment for global energy investment in clean energy and renewable energy technologies. This explains Princess Osifo’s decision to refocus Jenik’s efforts towards making calculated investments in gas.
The Jeniks and Qatar Group initiative is expected to open up new possibilities for the infrastructure development and exploration of gas reserves in Nigeria and other African countries. Increased investment in the power and gas-based industries will result from this deeper use of natural gas.
Apart from the Qatar-Jeniks Africa Gas Project, Jeniks has significant investments in other segments of the oil and gas industry. It has purchased vessels for the lifting and transportation of crude and refined products, as well as invested in other petroleum product assets. The company has also made progress in its negotiations to buy a profitable oil well from a major oil corporation.
These massive and diversified investments in the oil and gas industry, signposted by the Qatar-Jeniks Africa Gas Project, have compelled her admirers and industry watchers to nickname her the Queen of Gas.
Princess Osifo is a philanthropist. She founded the Princess Foundation (The Helping Hands Home) to provide scholarships and skills acquisition training for children. Since its establishment in 2017, the foundation has helped over 1,000 children. The foundation also cares for the elderly and has trained nearly 1,100 people in various fields.
She has been honoured with several awards and nominations, including the TALF’s Life-Changing Icon of the Year (2022) and the Trailblazer in Energy Excellence.
Princess Joy Osifo is named as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her company, Jeniks Group, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
Dr. Mrs. Temitope Mayegun–Chief Executive Officer, Avila Group
Dr. Mrs. Temitope Mayegun is the Chief Executive Officer of Avila Group, a leading manufacturer of natural body care and household brands in Africa. With a diverse product portfolio spread across four divisions including Skincare, Foods & Supplements, Water & Drinks, and Fashion, she promotes holistic wellness and lifestyle.
A holder of a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, she also has an MBA from the Eaton Business School. She attended the Harvard Business School where she undertook an Executive Leadership Course in ‘Leading Different and High-Performance Team’. She is also an alumnus of the Lagos Business School.
Dr. Mayegun started Avila Naturalle in 2017 in a mini-flat with three staff; today it has grown to become the largest manufacturer of organic and skincare and beauty products, rubbing shoulders with the best in the world, with over 200 employees. From a very humble beginning, Avila Naturalle has grown to a size and capacity that enable it to place Nigeria on the world map of top skincare and beauty products manufacturing countries. From a one-product and one-division company at the time it started, the company has grown into a conglomerate with four divisions manufacturing over 400 products in skincare and beauty, food, water and drinks, as well as fashion.
Under the leadership of Temitope Mayegun, the Avila Naturalle business has experienced remarkable growth, spreading its reach and value across Africa, North America, the United Kingdom and Europe. Avila currently has over 2000 distributors in different categories, through which it has empowered thousands of individuals, mostly women who now own their steady income-generating ventures
In the West Africa, Avila has an established market in Accra, Ghana, through which it spreads to other West African countries like the Republic of Benin, Togo, etc. The company is also registered in Kenya and has commenced the registration process in Rwanda, through which it is spreading its footprint to other East African markets like Uganda, Tanzania, DR Congo, etc.
Avila has a presence in the USA through a registered distributor, who provides the distribution service to its customers across the US market. The company also has a presence in the United Kingdom through its registered distributor, who provides the distribution service to customers in this market.
Through her innovative business model, Dr. Mayegun has created a scalable and inclusive opportunity for entrepreneurs to start with as little as $50 and grow their businesses to remarkable feats. Through this venture, 20% of the beneficiaries have achieved over $10,000 in worth, 50% have reached $5,000 and others have attained $2,500.
She has impacted the lives of 10,000,000 individuals in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Benin Republic, Togo, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, DR Congo, Rwanda, the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada and some parts of Europe, providing 100% natural solutions to their skin issues. She has trained over 2,400 distributors, many of whom have achieved significant business growth.
The Avila founder/CEO has supported entrepreneurs living with disabilities, providing them with training and empowerment to harness their potential, and sponsored women’s football tournaments, promoting gender equality in sports, and successfully launching the careers of two young players into the Nigerian junior national team.
Dr. Mayegun has led the annual BE-YOU-TIFUL campaign against skin bleaching, reaching out to over 50,000 secondary school students, enlightening them, distributing products and promoting natural skincare. She has also funded medical surgeries for women in need; also partnered with the Hope Builder Foundation to create value for individuals with disabilities. She served as an ambassador for the Senior Citizens of Nigeria, promoting mental health and well-being among the elderly, and providing free health and wellness products.
Her other societal impact and value-added activities include participation in community outreaches with Abraham Seeds Medical Outreach, offering free medical services and drugs to rural communities; and providing scholarships to 25 students in rural communities, supporting vulnerable families and empowering the next generation of leaders.
Dr. Mayegun has received many awards and recognitions including, Fellow, Chartered Administrators and Researchers of Nigeria (2024) – Institute of Leadership and Manpower, United Kingdom (2024) – UN Eminent Ambassador Award (2024). She is a recipient of two Honorary Doctorate degrees and other awards. Avila Naturalle and its products have also cartted home several awards in the last five years.
Dr. Mrs. Temitope Mayegun has been selected as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her company, Avila Group, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
Dr. Jane Kimemia–Chief Executive Officer, Optiva Capital Partners
Dr. Jane Kimemia, is the Chief Executive Officer of Optiva Capital Partners. A product of the Executive Education Programme of INSEAD Business School, France, she has logged a combined 23 years’ experience in financial services and development finance across a broad spectrum of client segments including Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and covering product propositions from Transactional Banking, Lending and Wealth Management. In the last 4 years, she has been heavily involved in work in development finance and investments across East, West and Southern Africa dealing with partnerships, liaisons with private companies and Government institutions on structuring of transactions and execution of projects at national and local government levels.
Prior to founding Optiva Capital Partners in 2010, Dr. Kimemia had a successful career in the banking sector, having worked with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) and Barclays Bank for a combined period of 20 years. She was the Executive Director and Head of Wealth Management at SCB, with responsibility for investment services, banc assurance and foreign exchange for an entire region. She was also Managing Director of Standard Chartered Investments Services (SCIS), one of the bank’s subsidiaries and was Managing Director at the Standard Chartered Insurance Agencies Limited (SCIAL).
Dr. Kimemia also served as the General Manager of Priority and International banking at Standard Chartered Bank, where she spearheaded the establishment and management of the Priority Banking proposition for high-net-worth clients across regions. Before she joined Standard Chartered Bank, she had worked for Barclays Bank, holding senior positions including Head of Premier Banking; and Head of Scheme Loans.
Optiva Capital Partners, the nation’s leading investment immigration wealth management company has steadily, over the past thirteen years built a growing reputation amongst investment savvy Nigerians who seek quality service in investment immigration, investment advisory, and wealth management. The company’s unwavering commitment is to provide clients with the opportunity to protect, grow, enhance and optimize their wealth, and ensure they get the benefits of secured capital through multi-asset funds, global equities, corporate funds; and also achieve optimal diversified portfolio.
Through firm determination and clear definition of the company’s vision and mission, Optiva Capital Partners has grown its staff strength from just about 15 in 2017 to over 1,000 currently, with over 17 branches across the country, and projected to reach 20 branches in the next few months.
In the twilight of 2023, Optiva Capital Partners unveiled a bouquet of wealth management investment products, services and solutions which, according to the CEO, were a “culmination of efforts throughout last year, working with our partners.” The expansion of Optiva Capital Partners’ service offering included a remarkable formal partnership between the company and Polaris Bank Limited. Under the partnership, Optiva Capital agreed to collaborate with Polaris Bank to be the provider of Investment immigration, Wealth Management/ Investment Advisory and insurance products to Polaris Bank’s Ultra High Net-worth Individuals.
Optiva Capital Partners has also launched a new product tagged Diaspora Investor Direct Investment (DIDI) which targets $5 Billion in direct investments into the country by Nigerians living in the diaspora. DIDI is a unique product to attract diaspora funds and investments into the country. The objective is to stand in the gap for Nigerians in the diaspora who seek to remit funds home for investment purposes but are afraid of losing their funds to unscrupulous persons or agents.
Dr. Kimemia has made Optiva to become a force for women development through mentorship. Over 70 per cent of the company’s workforce is women for whom opportunities are being created to serve, to get better, and to grow a career. There is also an initiative to empower market women to enable them get better at their trade. Optiva has entered into partnership with a Micro Finance Bank to help them to formalise their businesses, structure their businesses so that they can get financing and scale up their businesses.
Dr Kimemia’s business leadership acumen and impact on society have earned her very important recogntions. One of them is the Pan African Entrepreneur of the Year award during the African Achievers Awards given by the House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, UK Parliament. She was also recently conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) of Men and Women of Influence Global Award by Highstone Global University Texas, USA, for her commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Dr. Jane Kimemia is selected as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her company, Optiva Capital Partners, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
Barrister Mrs. Veronica Ndanusa–DG/CEO Lagos International Trade Fair Complex
Barrister Veronica Safiya Ndanusa is the Director General (DG) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex. She was born and raised in Minna, Niger State.
Mrs. Ndanusa is a seasoned lawyer with over two decades of practice who is the current secretary of the board of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Forum. She has extensive experience in the operations of humanitarian services, entrepreneur skills development, women empowerment programmes. She is the current President of the Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs. (NAWE).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Mrs. Ndanusa as the Executive Director of the Trade Fair Complex on October 14, 2023, and charged her to drive the Renewed Hope Agenda mantra of his administration. Since then, Ndanusa has performed what, in the assessment of the occupants of the Complex, amounts to magic, surpassing expectations, turning around the blockages that had hampered activities at the Trade Fair Complex ground and growth in Nigeria’s commerce and investment. The Trade Fair business community were effusive with commendations for her during her first year in office.
The Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Stakeholders Association, in a statement to mark her one year in office, highlighted her achievements, noting that Ndanusa’s tenure had seen the strengthening of policies that mitigated the growth of businesses in the Complex. They said her strides had led to the National Assembly legislators’ oversight function visit to see to the completion of critical infrastructure projects and enumerated her efforts to empower stakeholders by bringing back and recognising their importance in the Trade Fair community. The Executive Director was credited for forging strategic partnerships and collaborations with government agencies to enhance trade facilitation.
The Community also gave her credit for infrastructural upgrades and boosting trade efficiency and competitiveness.
A women leader, politician and key stakeholder at the Lagos International Trade Fair complex, Mrs. Catherine O. Adibuah, in a goodwill message on Ndanusa’s one year in office described her as a true African woman of substance who has come and performed very well in an office usually dominated by men.
She said: “I am very proud of you for your achievements especially in bringing sanity in building and property development and management in the complex.
“You came and began the clearing of drainages that have not been done since the beginning of the complex in 1977. You helped us restore electricity and with your help, the National Assembly has agreed to include the cost of reconstructing the 6-kilometre ring-road since 1977 in the 2025 national budget.”
The height of Barr. Ndanusa’s glory as the CEO of the Trade Fair Complex was the presidential commendation she received for returning the hosting of the Lagos International Trade Fair to the complex after 14 years of inactivity. The return of the trade fair, she said at the opening ceremony on November 15, 2024, “presents a platform where businesses, government agencies and investors can connect, collaborate, and find new avenues for growth. Our goal is to enhance Nigeria’s commercial landscape by showcasing the latest products, services, and technological advancements. Through this gathering, we aim to open doors for investments, job creation, and industry growth that will ultimately contribute to national prosperity.”
The Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programmes, Dr. Mariam Masha, described the resumption of the fair as the dawn of a new era for Nigeria. He commended Barr. Ndanusa and her team for their efforts at ensuring the resumption of the fair in the complex.
He said: “I commend her visionary leadership and her dedicated team for bringing back this iconic event at such a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. Your efforts in reviving this platform are a testament to your commitment to driving economic growth and development in Nigeria and across the borders of Nigeria’s shores.” The Vice-President described the Fair as a powerful platform to showcase the resilience and innovation of the nation’s industries, saying, “It provides an opportunity to connect with global partners, explore new markets, and foster collaboration. I urge all participants to seize this moment to forge lasting relationships and drive economic growth.”
About 400 exhibitors had registered to participate at the fair. Mrs. Ndanusa attributed the relatively low turnout to the management’s inability to host fairs within the complex for nearly two decades.
“Lagos International Trade Fair Complex offers a unique advantage to industrialists and exhibitors due to its strategic location and excellent infrastructure, making it a hub of commercial activity,” she said. “The high traffic flow and diverse audience provide unparalleled opportunities for businesses to showcase their products and services, connect with potential customers, and expand their market reach. This trade fair serves as a gateway to the West African market, offering access to a vast consumer base in ECOWAS countries. It is a platform where businesses can explore new markets, forge partnerships, and drive economic growth across the region.”
One of the immediate positive fall-outs of the resumption of the International Trade Fair at its original venue is that the Complex would be used as the venue for the African Union MSME Forum of 2025. Nigeria was announced as the host for the event at the 2024 edition of the Forum held in Namibia a few months ago.
Mrs. Ndanusa is not new to receiving plaudits for outstanding performance. She was conferred with the Award of National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM), by the former President, Muhammadu Buhari. And, following the return of the annual trade exhibition to the Trade Fair Complex after 14 years of absence, the feat was recognized by the Leadtimes Africa Magazine with the Business Woman of the Year 2024 Award.
The investiture, which took place at an impressive ceremony held at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, attracted several top personalities. Presenting the award, the Leadtimes Africa Magazine, Advisory Board Chairman, Dr. Isaac Chukwudi, described Barrister Ndanusa as a focused entrepreneur, who had impacted positively on the lives of many Nigerians and contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Barrister Mrs. Veronica Ndanusa is selected as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her organization, the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
Dr. Adaobi Nwakuche–Managing Director/CEO at Veritas Kapital Assurance plc
Dr. Adaobi Nwakuche is the Managing Director/CEO of Veritas Kapital Assurance plc. She is a distinguished and highly skilled insurance professional with over 25 years of experience spread across five different insurance companies.
Dr. Adaobi holds a BSc. in Government and Public Administration from Abia State University, an MBA (Business Administration) from ESUT Business School, and a Ph.D. in Insurance, Risk Management and Corporate Governance from the European American University. She is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School and the Lagos Business School and is a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and the Chartered Insurance Institute, London (CII).
She started her insurance career in 1997 with Standard Alliance Insurance Company Limited, Lagos, as a youth corps member with the start-up team. There, she rose through the ranks, exceeding targets, before leaving the organisation as the Group Head, General Business Marketing Group after 10 years of meritorious service. In those 10 years, she championed the success of various strategic alliances created by Standard Alliance with several organisations for the company’s insurance and risk management solutions.
In 2007, Dr. Adaobi joined Staco Insurance as a Deputy Director. At Staco Insurance, she managed and supervised the technical activities of the Lagos Control Office, South-East and South-South regions, as well as drove the market expansion and business revenue growth for these regions. She was the driving force behind the exponential growth of the organisation during the period.
In 2013, she joined Equity Assurance Plc, Lagos, as Director (Commercial Division), where she successfully defined the company’s marketing strategy and framework, repositioned the organisation, and grew the company’s revenue and market share within one year of resumption. She also championed customer centricity to retain customers, spearheaded the development of the corporate direct market channel, and achieved positive cash flows and profitability within 12 months.
In 2015, she left Equity Assurance for Heirs Insurance as Executive Director, Business Development, and in December 2020, Dr. Adaobi was appointed MD/CEO of Heirs Insurance Limited. As the pioneer MD/CEO, she championed the company’s market dominance and orchestrated the strategic direction of the company.
Now, as the Managing Director/CEO of Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, Dr. Adaobi is the arrowhead pushing Veritas Kapital Assurance into new heights of growth geared towards ensuring profitability and long-term value creation for shareholders. Her extensive experience in the insurance industry has been instrumental in Veritas’ success. Nwakuche’s leadership style is marked by a relentless commitment to excellence and innovation. She introduced new strategies at Veritas which greatly boosted the company’s insurance revenue by 350% and its net insurance and investment results by 425%. Under her leadership, the company’s profit after tax skyrocketed by 630% in a single year.
With Nwakuche on the driving seat, Veritas is meeting client and shareholder expectations. Her customer-centric approach has greatly reinforced the company’s position as a leading player in the Nigerian insurance industry.
She has received over 15 different awards from various organisations, including the Vocational Merit Award for outstanding contributions to the insurance industry by Rotary Club and Outstanding Leadership & Excellence Award in West Africa by the Chartered Institute of Public Resources Management & Politics (CIPRMP) Ghana.
Dr. Adaobi Nwakuche is honoured as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her organization, Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe–Founder, MD/CEO, SecureID
Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe is the Founder, MD/CEO of SecureID, a leading provider of smartcard solutions in Africa for the banking and telecoms industries.
She attended Corona, proceeded to the Methodist Girls High School, and went abroad for a short time before returning to Nigeria to attend the University of Lagos where she graduated as a prize-winning graduate in Mathematics. She later took up a Chevening Scholarship to study for an MBA at Strathclyde Graduate Business School Scotland, UK
Over the years, she has also taken other courses including the Owner/President Management programme with the Harvard Business School in 2020, the Blue Ocean Strategy programme with LBS-INSEAD in 2010, and the Essentials of Leadership course with the London Business School.
After graduating, Kofo knew that she did not want to continue on that path and going into a banking career seemed like a valid alternative.
After completing the National Youth Service Corps, she joined International Merchant Bank (IMB), the Nigerian affiliate of the First National Bank of Chicago, and later worked for Chartered Bank as a pioneer staff. She spent 12 years in the banking industry before leaving to start Interface Technologies in 1997.
Interface Technologies Limited (ITL) was conceived as a security management and biometrics technologies company. It provided security management systems, such as access controls, CCTVs, and all kinds of security management solutions for clients. From starting the business in her house with one staff, Akinkugbe moved out and employed up to 40 staff, eventually running the business for nine years.
In 2006, KofoAkinkugbe started SecureID Nigeria Ltd which soon became the first VISA-certified plant in sub-Saharan Africa. SecureID is focused on the production of banking and telecom cards with a mag stripe and chip encoding.
Since its launch in 2005, SecureID has been blazing the trail with innovations in card technology and solutions, having been certified by Visa, MasterCard, and Verve for Chip Embedding, Chip Encoding, Chip Personalization, Card Personalization, and Card Fulfillment.
In January 2015, SecureID commissioned a brand new state-of-the-art, EMV-certified smartcard manufacturing plant in Lagos. It was the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa in the manufacture of bank payment cards, SIM cards, SIM packages for the telecoms industry, and other high-security polycarbonate identity cards.
On May 10, 2015, SecureID unveiled a new online enrolment solution for Nigerian lawyers to aid the seamless enrolment of members to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In January 2017, SecureID Ltd commissioned a SIM Card manufacturing line to support the needs of Nigeria’s rapidly growing mobile telecoms sector. Mrs. Akinkugbe further branched out into producing digital cards and even e-tickets for the transportation sector so that commuters could download and use e-tickets to board, without necessarily having to get physical paper tickets.
The company has business operations in 16 African countries, demonstrating that a manufacturing company founded in Nigeria can compete successfully in the global market.
One of the factors propelling the success of SecureID is Mrs. Akinkugbe’s belief in and resort to creativity and innovation. “We live in a digital world, and we must respond to the dynamic changes that are going on around us,” she said.
Mrs. Akinkugbe’s accomplishments at SecureID have been acknowledge by the rest of the world. In October 2012, SecureID Limited was named the Most Outstanding Mature Business in the 3rd African Leadership Network Awards for Entrepreneurship, in recognition of its excellent business practice. Also, recently, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, praised SecureID Limited for its sustainable contributions to the country’s digitisation drive. During a visit to SecureID Limited’s corporate headquarters, Edun lauded the company’s forward-thinking approach and exemplary achievements.
He said, “You are creating a vibrant and forward-looking organisation that has not only achieved a lot but has laid the basis for doing a lot more, sustainably and in an exemplary manner. A strong brand is evolving.”
Some of the recent activities of SecureID that attest to Mrs. Akinkugbe’s innovative drive includes the recently launched West Africa’s first eco-friendly telecoms sim card initiative in partnership with MTN Nigeria, the partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to improve Nigeria’s national identity management through custom-designed government solutions for national IDS, Driver’s Licenses, and Passports, the launching of the company’s secureCard manufacturing plant in Lagos, among other initiatives. During the year, MrsAkinkugbe won a number of high-profile awards, including the best female supplier of the year award at MTN Nigeria’s suppliers forum. All these accomplishments are some of the things that stand MrsAkinkugbe out as one of the outstanding female business executives of the year in corporate Nigeria.
Dr. Mrs. KofoAkinkugbe was selected as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her organization, SecureID, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
Folake Soetan–Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric
Mrs. Folake Soetan is the Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric, the largest electricity distribution company in Sub-Saharan Africa. Within two decades, Soetan has built professional experience in the management of startups, holding leadership roles in more than 60% of that time. Hers is a truly interesting and inspiring career history.
A graduate of Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos, she is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, where she acquired certification in Advanced Management. She has garnered several certifications in various professional courses and continues to take part in several leadership programmes.
Mrs. Soetan’s career started when she joined British Airways in 2001 as a sales account manager. She later left British Airways in April 2005 to join Virgin Nigeria Airways where she served as Regional Sales Manager, National Sales Manager, and Head of Sales in a space of five years. In those roles, she developed and implemented the sales strategy for improved revenue optimization for the Sales Department in Nigeria.
As the National Sales Manager, she had responsibility for the profit and loss of the three major Regions in Nigeria through direct training and supervision of the three Regional Sales Managers and the independent sales channels.
She left Virgin Nigeria in May 2009 for the Sahara Group where she worked with one of the key members of the Group, SO Aviation, in Ghana. She was the Head of Sales and Marketing for almost three years, and led in driving the transformation, turnaround and re-branding of Aviation, Air and Land Services Limited to SO Aviation. She handled stock acquisition, efficient and effective stock distribution, sales strategy development, and identifying new business opportunities, among other responsibilities.
She served as the Vice-President of Downstream – West Africa for three years as well and drove the expansion of the downstream market share beyond Nigeria into Ghana, one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. Notably, she led the team that started PWSL and SO Aviation in Ghana, with a turnover of $86.7 million.
Mrs. Soetan joined Ikeja Electric in 2015 as Deputy Chief Commercial Officer and, shortly afterwards, promoted Chief Commercial Officer. In that position she and her team initiated some transformational changes in power distribution in Nigeria. These included initiatives that helped curb energy theft, addressed issues around estimated billing, improved customer complaints resolution, and reduced commercial and collection losses.
She moved another rung up the management ladder in 2019 when she became the Chief Operating Officer. Mrs. Soetan developed and implemented strategies to increase customer growth, and reduce energy losses associated with power distribution, optimized the technical infrastructure, increased revenues and strengthened the overall performance of the business. She was also in charge of the team that delivered the Bilateral Power initiative in August 2019 – a Willing-Buyer-Willing-Seller scheme which, for the first time in Nigeria, witnessed the provision of a minimum of 20 hours of power supplied through the National Grid to customers.
With such outstanding performance, it was no surprise that Mrs. Soetan was announced as Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric in March 2020 to lead a team of over 3,200 employees. Expectedly, the performance has moved several notches up: increased power distribution, technological transformation and even more innovations across the board.
By dint of hard and team work, under Soetan’s leadership, the company has reduced its ATC&C losses from over 41% to as low as 24.9% in 4 years, the best so far by industry standards. The company continues to innovate and rely on technology to deliver quality and stable power supply for customers in its franchise area.
Under her, Ikeja Electric has earned the remarkable recognition of the ISO9001 & OHSAS18001 certification – a mark of the company’s commitment to high safety and quality management standards in loss reduction, innovation and customer-centricity.
Within and outside Ikeja Electric, Mrs. Soetan has been influencing and contributing to the growth of women through mentorship initiatives. Apart from promoting equal opportunities across gender at Ikeja Electric, Mrs. Soetan also mentors several young men and women looking to build successful professional careers in the power and oil & gas sectors. She is a member of the Board of Women in Energy Network (WIEN).
The world has taken notice of Mrs. Soetan’s outstanding accomplishments and has begun to acknowledge and honour her. She recently received “The CEO Award” Category in the 65th edition of the International Safety Awards (ISA) organized by the British Safety Council. Also, in March this year, she was awarded the Outstanding Woman in Energy (Power Sector) by the Women in Maritime & Energy Awards (WIME), in celebration of her exemplary leadership, and advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion of all resources, particularly the female gender in the sector.
Mrs. Folake Soetan was selected as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her organization, Ikeja Electric, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
Mrs. Folake Soetan is the Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric, the largest electricity distribution company in Sub-Saharan Africa. Within two decades, Soetan has built professional experience in the management of startups, holding leadership roles in more than 60% of that time. Hers is a truly interesting and inspiring career history.
A graduate of Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos, she is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, where she acquired certification in Advanced Management. She has garnered several certifications in various professional courses and continues to take part in several leadership programmes.
Mrs. Soetan’s career started when she joined British Airways in 2001 as a sales account manager. She later left British Airways in April 2005 to join Virgin Nigeria Airways where she served as Regional Sales Manager, National Sales Manager, and Head of Sales in a space of five years. In those roles, she developed and implemented the sales strategy for improved revenue optimization for the Sales Department in Nigeria.
As the National Sales Manager, she had responsibility for the profit and loss of the three major Regions in Nigeria through direct training and supervision of the three Regional Sales Managers and the independent sales channels.
She left Virgin Nigeria in May 2009 for the Sahara Group where she worked with one of the key members of the Group, SO Aviation, in Ghana. She was the Head of Sales and Marketing for almost three years, and led in driving the transformation, turnaround and re-branding of Aviation, Air and Land Services Limited to SO Aviation. She handled stock acquisition, efficient and effective stock distribution, sales strategy development, and identifying new business opportunities, among other responsibilities.
She served as the Vice-President of Downstream – West Africa for three years as well and drove the expansion of the downstream market share beyond Nigeria into Ghana, one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. Notably, she led the team that started PWSL and SO Aviation in Ghana, with a turnover of $86.7 million.
Mrs. Soetan joined Ikeja Electric in 2015 as Deputy Chief Commercial Officer and, shortly afterwards, promoted Chief Commercial Officer. In that position she and her team initiated some transformational changes in power distribution in Nigeria. These included initiatives that helped curb energy theft, addressed issues around estimated billing, improved customer complaints resolution, and reduced commercial and collection losses.
She moved another rung up the management ladder in 2019 when she became the Chief Operating Officer. Mrs. Soetan developed and implemented strategies to increase customer growth, and reduce energy losses associated with power distribution, optimized the technical infrastructure, increased revenues and strengthened the overall performance of the business. She was also in charge of the team that delivered the Bilateral Power initiative in August 2019 – a Willing-Buyer-Willing-Seller scheme which, for the first time in Nigeria, witnessed the provision of a minimum of 20 hours of power supplied through the National Grid to customers.
With such outstanding performance, it was no surprise that Mrs. Soetan was announced as Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric in March 2020 to lead a team of over 3,200 employees. Expectedly, the performance has moved several notches up: increased power distribution, technological transformation and even more innovations across the board.
By dint of hard and team work, under Soetan’s leadership, the company has reduced its ATC&C losses from over 41% to as low as 24.9% in 4 years, the best so far by industry standards. The company continues to innovate and rely on technology to deliver quality and stable power supply for customers in its franchise area.
Under her, Ikeja Electric has earned the remarkable recognition of the ISO9001 & OHSAS18001 certification – a mark of the company’s commitment to high safety and quality management standards in loss reduction, innovation and customer-centricity.
Within and outside Ikeja Electric, Mrs. Soetan has been influencing and contributing to the growth of women through mentorship initiatives. Apart from promoting equal opportunities across gender at Ikeja Electric, Mrs. Soetan also mentors several young men and women looking to build successful professional careers in the power and oil & gas sectors. She is a member of the Board of Women in Energy Network (WIEN).
The world has taken notice of Mrs. Soetan’s outstanding accomplishments and has begun to acknowledge and honour her. She recently received “The CEO Award” Category in the 65th edition of the International Safety Awards (ISA) organized by the British Safety Council. Also, in March this year, she was awarded the Outstanding Woman in Energy (Power Sector) by the Women in Maritime & Energy Awards (WIME), in celebration of her exemplary leadership, and advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion of all resources, particularly the female gender in the sector.
Mrs. Folake Soetan was selected as one of the Top 10 Magazine’s CEO of the Year 2024 in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of her organization, Ikeja Electric, which have greatly impacted the society during the year under review.
