Oyeyimika Adeboye, the managing director of Cadbury Nigeria, has stated that most organisations reward performance regardless of one’s gender.
She noted this at Ascent Top 100 Career Women in Africa 2025 for women in career and leadership hosted by Glory Edozien, PhD, founder of Ascent Club and thought leadership expert, as part of the celebration of the activities celebrating Women’s History Month.
The event was sponsored by Shell, NNPC/ SNEPco, United Capital Asset Management, Moet & Hennessy, Sara by Wema bank and other corporate organisations.
Adeboye and other top female executives and professionals shared personal experiences and insights on overcoming barriers, redefining power, and driving meaningful change in light of the deep-rooted challenges and the persistent struggle for gender equity in corporate and political spheres.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Adeboye recounted how a results-driven mindset was instilled in her from childhood whilst growing up in a very large family. Her father’s words shaped her belief that success comes from merit rather than identity.
Read also: Bridging gender gap critical to women empowerment – Wema Bank CEO
Early lessons in performance-driven success
Adeboye noted that real-world experiences expose the limitations of this ideology, regardless.
While reflecting on her professional experience in the United Kingdom (UK) as an accountant, she was confronted with systemic gender bias at a company event, when a senior female colleague openly admitted that women were unlikely to become partners in the company.
“If a white woman is talking like this, me, what chances does a black girl like me have….” she recalled.
This realisation prompted her return to Nigeria, where she eventually rose to lead one of the country’s top firms.
The Leadership gap: a global challenge
Adeboye also shared statistics on the prevalent gaps despite women proving their capabilities across industries.
“Looking at Fortune 500 companies, only 52 CEOs are women—that’s just 10 percent, she noted. “Similarly, only five of the world’s 195 countries currently have female presidents”.
Speaking about Cadbury as a model for change through its inclusive leadership, she highlighted that at Cadbury Nigeria, gender equity is driven by merit rather than quotas.
“Our leadership team in West Africa consists of four women and three men, as does our board. These women are there because they have worked hard and deserve it,” she explained. She believes this success should serve as an example for other organisations aiming for balanced representation.
Power as influence, not authority
Dr. Oluwakemi Oyekan-Olumuyiwa, executive director at NNPC, contributed her thoughts on the subject matter.
She emphasised that power needs to be redefined beyond traditional notions of control but dominance, influence and effectiveness which defines true leadership.
“Power is not about going to a meeting and shouting people down. I get things done without making noise,” she said.
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Breaking barriers through support and relationships
Cultural and structural barriers continue to hinder women’s progress, she admitted.
However, as Olumuyiwa pointed out, leveraging relationships can be a game-changer.
“There are different currencies in life—social currency, relationship currency. My family became my support system so I could go out there and achieve my dreams.” She urged women to build networks based on trust rather than attempting to force change aggressively.
The cost of visibility
Oyekan-Olumuyiwa emphasised that visibility in leadership goes beyond simply being seen; it’s about being recognised as credible and consistent.
“When you show up repeatedly with clarity, integrity, value, and results, people begin to listen—and more importantly, they begin to believe in you,” she said.
She also acknowledged the challenges of increased visibility, noting the tension between being seen and being scrutinised. “If a man raises his voice in a meeting, he is assertive, but if a woman does the same, she is regarded as aggressive,” she observed.
This also points out the internal criticism women often face from one another.
Despite these challenges, she encouraged women to prioritise presence over perfection, urging them to speak up even when uncomfortable, stressing,
“I don’t want anybody to push me around, but I choose presence over perfection and allow my work to speak, even when my person is misunderstood.”
Hard work plus strategy
“Hard work alone is not enough to reach the top”, Areje Adegoke, asset manager at SNEPco, advised, highlighting the importance of strategy, planning, and networking.
“Hard work is important, but on its own, it will not get you to the top,” they explained, urging professionals to set clear goals and acquire the right skills.
Adegoke cited a McKinsey study showing that men are 33 percent more likely to have senior sponsors. She also advised professionals to create and nurture relationships before they are needed.
Progress in gender diversity was also noted, as she highlighted Shell’s female senior leadership increasing from 4 percent in 1997 to 32 percent today.
The conversation continued with a panel session with Fabia Ogunmekan, leader of equality initiatives at WRTHY as the moderator, Lara Yeku, HR lead at Flour Mills, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, chief marketing officer at MTN, and Foluso Gbadamosi, lead, 10 Million African Girl Project. Ngover Ihyembe- Nwankwo, ED, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems Plc.
The third panel session focused on money and power and had Tomie Balogun, founding partner, Twelve and NED as the moderator.
The speakers are Dr. Sindy Zemura- CEO Southern Africa Embrace Foundation and Adetutu Laditan – creative director, Woof Studios Africa.
Read also: Organisations urged to prioritise gender equality
2025 Top 100 Career Women in Africa
Edozien noted, saying:
“This platform is more than a list—it is a movement dedicated to ensuring that the incredible women driving corporate and industry success across Africa receive the recognition and visibility they deserve.”
The full list of the 2025 Top 100 Career Women in Africa, arranged alphabetically, is as follows:
1. Abimbola Agbejule – Head, Corporate Sustainability, Wema Bank PLC – Nigeria
2. Adaku Ufere – Independent governor and trustee, University of Aberdeen – Ghana
3. Adebimpe Olambiwonnu – Chief Financial Officer, Sterling Financial Holdings Company – Nigeria
4. Adekunbi Johnson – Head, travel, Africa Export-Import (Afrexim) Bank – Egypt
5. Adetola Fasuyi – Head, wealth management, United Capital Group – Nigeria
6. Aïssata Lam – Director General, Investment Promotion Agency of Mauritania – Mauritania
7. Alison Badenhorst – Chief marketing officer, Rand Merchant Bank – South Africa
8. Amina Onifade – Chief Operating Officer, Genesis Energy Group – Nigeria
9. Aminata Kane – CEO, Orange Money Group – Morocco
10. Amsale Gualu – First female captain, Ethiopian Airlines – Ethiopia
11. Annette Kimitei – Managing director, Senaca East Africa – Kenya
12. Areje Adegoke – Asset manager, Deep Water Non-Operated Ventures – Nigeria
13. Astou Dia – Portfolio enterprise lead & deputy team leader, Boost Africa Technical Assistance Facility – Kenya
14. Aurélie Pujo – Senior advisor, Amethis – Morocco
15. Bogolo Joy Kenewendo – Cabinet minister of minerals and energy, Government of Botswana – Botswana
16. Carina Wessels – Executive, governance, legal, compliance, and sustainability, Alexforbes – South Africa
17. Caroline Eboumbou – CEO, All On – Nigeria
18. Charlotte Ndaw Sako – Country manager, International Finance Corporation – Cameroon
19. Chinny Ononuju-Mcernest – Special adviser, strategic partnerships, Minister of Women Affairs – Nigeria
20. Chinwe Uzoho – Regional managing director, West & Central Africa, Network International – Nigeria
21. Chioma Etiaba-Nwankwo – Regional bank head, Lagos Central, Fidelity Bank – Nigeria
22. Chioma Nwokedi Momah – Head, policy and public affairs, Guinness Nigeria PLC – Nigeria
23. Chizo Ezem – Senior program officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Nigeria
24. Christine Ambetsa – Country director, technology, Oracle – Kenya
25. Corine Mbiaketcha Nana – Member, PAPSS Management Board, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) – Kenya
26. Dayo Aderugbo – Divisional head and general manager, Bank of Industry – Nigeria
27. Dharshni Padayachee – Head, diversity, equity, inclusion & wellbeing, Rand Merchant Bank – South Africa
28. Dr. Agnes Kalibata – President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa – Kenya
29. Dr. Amira Shoukry – Team leader for enabling business environment, DAI – Egypt
30. Dr. Julie Idongesit Utang – Manager, stakeholder relations/ag.Headd, business services, NUIMS, NNPC Limited – Nigeria
31. Dr. Michèle Mbo’o-Tchouawou – Deputy director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) – Kenya
32. Dr. Millicent Omukaga – Policy officer, African Development Bank Group – Côte d’Ivoire
33. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa – Deputy chairperson, African Union Commission – Ethiopia
34. Dr. Ntombi Mhangwani – Executive head, marketing, Vodacom Business – South Africa
35. Dr. Sheila Addo – Deputy Chief Executive (technical), National Petroleum Authority (NPA) – Ghana
36. Dr. Towela Nyirenda-Jere – Head of Secretariat, Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) – Ethiopia
37. Dr. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr – Mayor of Freetown, Freetown City Council – Sierra Leone
38. Ebtissam Farid – Professor of practice in architecture and design, The Knowledge Hub Universities – Egypt
39. Ejiro Gray – Director, governance & sustainability, Sahara Group – Nigeria
40. Elizabeth Marabwa – Chief director, Programme and projects management office, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy – South Africa
41. Enitan Oyenuga – HR director, Jumia Nigeria – Nigeria
42. Esther Adeola-Balogun – MD/CEO, UCEE Microfinance Bank Limited – Nigeria
43. Fatima Haram Acyl – Vice President, Central African Economic and Monetary Commission – Cameroon
44. Fatim Cissé – Director general, IHS Towers – Côte d’Ivoire
45. Felicia Agubata – Deputy general manager, terrestrial services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency – Nigeria
46. Fadoua Moutaouakil – Director of strategy, M&A, risk management, TAQA Morocco – Morocco
47. Gakii Mwongera – Director, mobile financial services, Ericsson – Kenya
48. Gladys J Some – Corporate communications manager, Kenya Reinsurance Corporation – Kenya
49. Heidi El Nahas – Head of corporate communications, sustainability, and sustainable finance group, Banque du Caire – Egypt
50. Hawa Cissé Wagué – Country manager, senior agricultural advisor, World Bank – Burundi
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51. Ivy Mawuko – Head of learning, Africa regions, Standard Bank Group – Ghana
52. Itumeleng Monale – Chief operating officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) – South Africa
53. Iyabode Ayobami-Ojo – Director, NNPC Academy – Nigeria
54. Jo-Ann Pöhl – Associate director, Kearney – South Africa
55. Joyce Mndambi – Project management specialist – private sector engagement & youth, USAID – Tanzania
56. Joyce Nakatumba-Nabende – Senior lecturer, computer science, Makerere University – Uganda
57. Judge Portia Nkutha-Nkontwana – Judge, Labour Court, Johannesburg – South Africa
58. Judith Obi – General manager, commercial, PPC Limited – Nigeria
59. Judy Gounden – Chief marketing officer, Quantum PKI – South Africa
60. Kaine Diete-Spiff – Physician, general practice, Shell – Nigeria
61. Kindo Marealle – Country head, human capital, Access Bank Tanzania – Tanzania
62. Koumba Diallo – IP education to employment program director, Investisseurs & Partenaires – Côte d’Ivoire
63. Lade Araba – Vice president, financial services, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) – Kenya
64. Lindiwe Zulu – Minister of Small Business Development, Department of Small Business Development – South Africa
65. Linda Quaynor – Partner/West Africa strategy and operations leader, Deloitte Nigeria – Nigeria
66. Manel Harrathi – Senior director, strategic innovation, fraud risk & compliance engineering, FIS – Tunisia
67. Mojisola Iyamabo – Associate vice president, gas business, Heirs Energies – Nigeria
68. Mpono Mosaase – Commissioner, operations support, Revenue Services Lesotho – Lesotho
69. Natalie Paida Jabangwe – Board member, Wesgro – South Africa
70. Nelisa Ngqulana – Associate partner, Dalberg Media – Kenya
71. Ngozi Akinyele – Group executive, chief marketing and communications officer, Coronation Group – Nigeria
72. Omolola Oloworaran – Director General, Pension Commission – Nigeria
73. Omowunmi Akingbohungbe – Executive director, WIMBIZ – Nigeria
74. Olayinka David-West – Dean, Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University – Nigeria
75. Olanike Nafisat Balogun – First female pilot, Nigeria Customs Service – Nigeria
Read also: Female leaders champion gender-inclusive leadership, financial inclusion in the workplace
76. Olu Arowolo Verheijen – Special adviser to the president of Nigeria on energy – Nigeria
77. Oghogho Makinde – Partner, Aluko & Oyebode – Nigeria
78. Ota Akhigbe – Director, partnerships and programs, eHealth Africa – Nigeria
79. Palesa Natasha Mothapo – Director, research support and management, Nelson Mandela University – South Africa
80. Patricia Obo-Nai – CEO, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited – Ghana
81. Phemelo Mitchell – Senior business developer, Pele Energy Group – South Africa
82. Rania El-Rafie – Vice president, public relations and strategic communications, APO Group – Egypt
83. Rentia Van Tonder – Head, power, corporate and investment banking, Standard Bank – South Africa
84. Ria Pinto – Country general manager and technology leader, IBM South Africa – South Africa
85. Sara Mortada – General manager, engineering department, Suez Methanol Derivatives – Egypt
86. Sayuri Moodliar – ESG director, Open Access Data Centres, WIOCC – South Africa
87. Sherifat Adegbenro – Chief audit and compliance officer, EKO Electricity Distribution PLC – Nigeria
88. Simi Nwogugu – CEO, Junior Achievement Africa – Nigeria
89. Soraya Munyana Hakuziyaremye – First female governor, National Bank of Rwanda – Rwanda
90. Stella Din-Jacob – Director of news & editor-in-chief, TVC Communications – Nigeria
91. Susan Maingi – Country lead, regulatory policy and stakeholder engagement, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa – Kenya
92. Sy Gourrah – Senior general manager, smart technologies, ACTOM (Pty) Ltd – South Africa
93. Tolulope Babajide – Gender network manager, FSD Africa – Kenya
94. Vivian Thabet – Deputy country director, CARE – Egypt
95. Wambui Mbesa – East Africa CEO, Relational FS – Kenya
96. Wola Joseph Condotti – Group MD/CEO, West Power and Gas Limited – Nigeria
97. Wunmi Ehis-Uzenabor – Chief Financial Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria – Nigeria
98. Yinka Edu – Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie – Nigeria
99. Yvonne Manzi Makolo – CEO, RwandAir – Rwanda
100. Zama Khanyile – Commissioner, Presidential Climate Commission – South Africa
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