From being systematically excluded from leadership roles to becoming chief executives, board members, and policymakers, women are gradually breaking archetypal cultural barriers, GLORIA NWAFOR writes.

Women have made significant progress in corporate Nigeria. Years ago, it was rare to see women in leadership positions, but that is changing. Women have shown over time that they can lead, innovate and deliver results at the highest levels.

For decades, women were told they were not ‘tough’ enough for leadership positions, ‘rational’ sufficient for finance, and ‘technical’ enough for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

However, today, research shows that women are running Fortune 500 companies, leading financial institutions, building groundbreaking tech, and driving policy at global levels.
Across various sectors of the economy, data show that more women are evolving and, even in some industries, outpacing their male counterparts.

For instance, years back, the banking and financial sector was generally male-dominated, from the low cadre to top managerial positions.

A 2022 research shows marginal gains in gender diversity in the country’s top 10 commercial banks.

The attrition rate for males stood at eight per cent, while females experienced a five per cent attrition rate during the period.

This was in contrast to the preceding years of 2021 and 2020 when both genders had an average attrition rate of three per cent.

In 2024, the Nigerian banking industry boasted of 10 female bank chief executive officers.
With about 26 major banks Nigeria currently has, the number of female banks’ chief executives soared from just one in 2019 to 10 in 2024, representing 36 per cent of Nigerian major banks’ chief executive officers.

Analysts said the increasing presence of female MDs within Nigerian banks highlights the acknowledgement of women’s capabilities and their significant role in driving the country’s economic progress.

The trend, according to them, signifies a progressive movement towards gender equality and inclusivity in corporate governance, marking a departure from conventional patriarchal norms towards a more balanced and diverse leadership landscape.

Also, data according to the average number of employees of one of the banks in 2024 by gender and level showed that the number of female employees was higher than that of male employees.

Given an analysis of total employees, the bank which boasted of a total of 7,704 employees, had 4,090 females and 3,614 males, with a percentage of 53 to 47.

According to 2022 data by Statista, the share of female workers globally by industry was about 65 per cent in healthcare and care services; 54 per cent in education, 52 per cent in customer services and 50 per cent in government and public offices, among others.

An economic expert, Ola Oladere, said while the journey was far from over, women have moved from symbolic representation to a growing recognition of women as key drivers of innovation, economic growth, and institutional reform.

According to her, it is not just an evolution but a revolution backed by results.
Noting that many things have helped women rise to top positions, she said supportive policies and global campaigns have opened more doors.

“Seeing other women succeed in business, politics, and other fields has also inspired more women to aim higher. Society is slowly changing too—people now value fairness and inclusion more than before. Most of all, women are pushing forward, building strong support systems and helping each other grow,” she said.

Oladere, who is also a financial wellness expert, said as women excel, they often approach leadership with empathy, collaboration, and long-term vision.

The qualities she stressed are increasingly valuable in today’s complex work environments, redefining excellence.

To help more women thrive in male-dominated roles, Oladere called for mentorship and support are key.

She emphasised that policies that ensure equal pay, flexible work, and leadership opportunities must be prioritised.

She said society should celebrate women’s ambition and not question it.

“Those in power must create space for qualified women, and we must keep telling the stories of those already breaking barriers—because seeing success inspires more of it,” she said.

An entrepreneur and founder of Growth Padi, Victory Mesona, said despite that there has been a stronger push for workplace equality and more conversations about inclusion, many women have worked hard to build strong careers, proven their skills, and created networks that helped them grow and rise.

Noting that women bring a different style of leadership that helps solve problems better or manage teams differently, however, she said it was not about competing with men.

“It is about ensuring the best person leads, no matter the gender. There is an intrinsic difference in the way women and men think, that is true, but this does not always determine that a gender will do well over the other. We can leverage our strengths for good or for bad. It depends on how much self-awareness, clarity, and understanding we have about leadership”, she added.

Acknowledging the fact that there was still more work to do, she said the progress so far showed that women are more than capable.

On what women and society can do to ensure more women continue to excel in roles that are traditionally held by men, Mesona said: “Women must keep building their skills, looking for growth opportunities, and supporting each other. Society must also be intentional about creating environments where women can thrive.

“This includes mentorship, equal pay, flexible policies, and true inclusion. For example, platforms like the Bold Money Women event I organised are important because they create spaces where women are empowered to lead, break limits, and learn from other women in a safe space. We need more of these platforms to keep the momentum going.”

Making her contribution, the President of the School of Management and Security, Dr Victoria Ekhomu, argued that the evolution of muscular career change was about more than women doing “men’s work.”

According to her, it is about reclaiming space, rewriting norms and proving that leadership, grit and vision are genderless.

She stated that the “glass ceiling” once stopped women from rising beyond middle management in male-dominated industries.

However, now, she said women are cracking and shattering those ceilings, leading oil rigs, engineering firms, and military divisions, adding that they serve as generals, surgeons, and chief executives in traditionally masculine fields.

She stressed that women must keep showing up, and society must keep opening doors.
“It is not just about “making space,” it is about recognizing that diverse, inclusive leadership is better for everyone.

On what society can do, Ekhomu, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transworld Security, called for promoting gender-inclusive education, challenging gender stereotypes, creating supportive workplaces, institutionalising equality, and celebrating female role models.