Nigeria is home to some of the most brilliant and innovative women in the world. They have excelled in every sector of the economy, including finance and venture capital. Despite the many challenges they face, Nigerian women in these fields continue to thrive and make significant strides towards financial empowerment and inclusivity.

In this piece, we celebrate the achievements of Nigerian women in venture capital and finance, highlighting their unique achievements as the world celebrates Women's Month 2023.

AISHA AHMAD

Aishah Ahmad is a seasoned professional with two decades of experience working in some of the world's leading financial institutions. She has held prominent positions at Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, a member of the Standard Bank Group, Bank of New York Mellon (UK), Zenith Bank PLC, and NAL Bank PLC.

Aishah's extensive knowledge and expertise in investment analysis and portfolio management are demonstrated by her membership in both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Associations, which are globally recognized programs. She holds a Master of Science degree in Finance and Management from the Cranfield School of Management in the United Kingdom, an MBA with a specialization in Finance from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a graduate degree in Accounting from the University of Abuja, Nigeria.

As a passionate advocate for global investing and promoting diversity and women's financial inclusion, Aishah regularly speaks on these topics and provides guidance on the board of several companies. She currently serves as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, a position that reflects her commitment to the development and growth of the country's financial sector.

MAYA FAMODU

Maya Horgan Famodu, a Nigerian-born venture capitalist, is deeply committed to advancing asset financing in Africa and fostering the continent's entrepreneurial landscape. At the young age of 25, she made history by becoming the youngest woman to launch a tech fund on her own in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Her brainchild, Ingressive Capital, was established in 2017 to invest directly in technology startups throughout Africa. In 2020, Maya accomplished a remarkable feat by doubling the assets under management (AUM) of Ingressive Capital from $5 million to $10 million. The fund's investors include prestigious entities such as Nigeria's sovereign wealth fund, Techstars, Michael Seibel of Y Combinator, among others.

ELOHO OMAME

Eloho Omame is a passionate early-stage investor who strongly advocates for gender inclusion in venture capital funding across Africa. She is the Co-Founder and General Partner of FirstCheck Africa, a VC firm that invests in tech startups founded or co-founded by women. Omame is dedicated to helping Africa's exceptional female entrepreneurial talent create successful companies through FirstCheck Africa.

The firm's investment portfolio includes startups in Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya, led by female founders who specialize in financial services, education, healthcare, and retail/commerce.

Omame is also a Partner at TLcom Capital, a seed-to-growth stage VC firm that invests in Africa. The firm's TIDE Africa Fund I ($70 million) was the first on the continent to meet the G7's 2X Criteria for gender lens investing. TIDE Africa Fund II (target: $150 million) is currently active.

In 2018, she established Endeavor Nigeria, a high-impact entrepreneurship network for founders of high-growth technology companies at the scaleup stage. Additionally, in collaboration with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, she conceptualized, built, and launched Lagos Innovates, a series of startup support programs that are the first of their kind from a sub-national government in Africa.

ODUNAYO EWENIYI

Odunayo Eweniyi is an accomplished Nigerian entrepreneur and advocate. She co-founded and currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Piggytech Global Limited, a software solutions company headquartered in Nigeria.

PiggyVest, the flagship product of Piggytech Global, is an innovative online savings platform that caters primarily to low- and middle-income Nigerians. The platform allows users to make deposits of small amounts on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, thereby encouraging sound financial management for individuals and businesses.

According to reports, Piggytech Global Limited disbursed over ₦242 billion ($553.8 million) to 3.5 million users in 2021, reflecting the company's commitment to promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Nigeria.

ADESUWA OKUNBO RHODES

Aruwa Capital Management was established in 2014 by Adesuwa, a skilled asset management and venture capitalist professional with over a decade of experience. During her time at J.P Morgan, she successfully executed deals worth more than $5.6 billion. She also played a vital role in building Syntaxis Capital Africa, the African division of a European private equity fund, which had just under $300 million in assets under management before launching her own company.

Aruwa Capital Management was created to address the gender imbalance among capital allocators and provide equitable investment opportunities for female-led or female-focused businesses. As one of the few women-owned/led early-stage growth equity funds in Africa, the company invests in small to lower mid-market established businesses in high-growth industries that are rapidly expanding.

OMOBOLA JOHNSON

Omobola Johnson is a highly accomplished individual with an impressive track record of leadership and service. She has held board positions in a number of prominent organizations, including Andela, Pula, Okra, and Kobo360. In addition, she has served on the boards of several leading Nigerian and multinational corporations, and is a member of the World Wide Web Foundation and the Founding Chairperson and Trustee of Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ).

Prior to her current roles, Omobola served as Nigeria's Minister of Communication Technology from 2011 to 2015, during which time she spearheaded the launch and execution of the National Broadband Plan and provided critical support to the country's technology industry, including the government's involvement in a local VC fund and a network of start-up incubators. Before entering government service, Omobola gained over 25 years of consulting experience with Accenture, where she served as Country Managing Director for five years, working with companies across a range of industries to help them become more competitive and dynamic organizations.

Omobola holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester, a Master's degree in Digital Electronics from King's College London, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from the School of Management at Cranfield University.

TOKUNBOH ISHMEAL

Tokunboh Ishmael is an accomplished professional with a diverse skill set. She earned her degree from the University of London and is an alumnus of the London Business School. Additionally, she holds the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of both the CFA Institute and the African Venture Capital Association.

Throughout her career spanning over 20 years, Tokunboh has amassed valuable experience in investment banking, private equity investing, and technology and new business development in Europe, the USA, and Africa. She is a proven leader who has made significant contributions to the financial sector.

At Aureos Capital, Tokunboh served as Country Partner for Nigeria and raised an impressive $50m for the Aureos West Africa Fund. She also held prominent roles at Salomon Smith Barney and Avante Capital Ltd as a mergers and acquisitions banker and Managing Director, respectively. As a co-founder and Managing Director of Alitheia Capital, she has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and success.

Tokunboh is highly regarded for her expertise and contributions to the Board of First City Monument Bank Limited, where she served diligently from January 2013 to February 2020. Her vast experience and innovative drive have positively influenced the Bank's growth and development.

She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of FCMB Group Plc, following the CBN's approval of her appointment on April 28, 2020. Her wealth of experience and expertise make her a valuable addition to the Group's leadership team.

ZAINAB AHMED

Zainab Ahmed holds one of the most influential portfolios in Nigeria as the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning. In this role, she has a mandate to increase government revenue and address the country's public debt, which is currently estimated at over $80 billion. One of her strategies is to raise the value-added tax, among other measures. Prior to this position, she served as the Executive Secretary and National Coordinator of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). With a background in accounting, she brings a wealth of experience in public sector reform and management to her current role.