Meet the CFOs behind Nigeria’s biggest market deals of 2025 

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The biggest market stories of 2025 weren’t just about earnings or forecasts.

They are shaped by listed companies that managed to close some of the largest deals of the year

In 2025, eight of these companies stood out for sealing major deals, with a combined transaction value of N1.232 trillion

Nairametrics reported that between January and July alone, corporates issued around N1.58 trillion in commercial papers, up sharply from N763.4 billion in the same period in 2024, reflecting a 37% increase in raised funds.

Behind these deals was not just corporate ambition, but strategic leadership. Driving those capital‑market deals were the finance chiefs, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), whose job it is to steer corporate strategy, manage liquidity and set funding plans.

This story is not just about numbers; it is about the CFOs, the financial architects behind Nigeria’s biggest deals of 2025.

These CFOs played a major role in structuring deals, managing risks, and turning complex financial maneuvers into successful outcomes. Their expertise allowed companies to strengthen balance sheets and pursue strategic growth, all while maintaining investor confidence.

Here are the CFOs behind Nigeria’s biggest market deals of 2025.

Rasheed Adebiyi, Champion Brew — N15 billion

Rasheed Adebiyi has been at the helm of finance at Champion Breweries PLC, first as Chief Financial Officer from May 2023 to May 2025, and currently as Finance Director since April 2025. Under his leadership, Champion Breweries closed deals totalling N15 billion.

Before joining Champion Breweries, Adebiyi gained extensive experience across major brewing and beverage companies. He served as Finance Manager at The Heineken Company, overseeing 234 Stores Nig Ltd and Touchsides Nig Ltd from 2021 to 2023.

He also held multiple leadership positions at Nigerian Breweries Plc and Heineken subsidiaries, including Zonal Business Controller, Business Controller, Brewery Financial Controller, and Regional Finance Manager. His responsibilities spanned financial controlling, strategic financial management, cost engineering, and manufacturing process improvement, establishing him as a seasoned leader in the FMCG sector.

Adebiyi’s early career included roles in audit, financial accounting, and SAP implementation projects, where he built a solid foundation in accounting standards, performance management, and financial planning.

He holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, which he joined in 2005.

Ifedamola Oluwasegun, Mecuré — N31.31 billion 

Ifedamola Oluwasegun serves as Group Chief Financial Officer of MeCure Group, overseeing MeCure Industries Plc and MeCure Healthcare Ltd, a position he has held since December 2021. In 2025, he directed deals totalling N31.31 billion.

Prior to joining MeCure, Oluwasegun held senior roles across investment banking and corporate strategy. He was a Senior Associate in the Investment Banking Group at Platform Capital Investment Partners between 2019 and 2021, and co-founded Nokkubo.com, leading business strategy and market expansion initiatives.

His earlier career includes positions in trade finance at Access Bank, audit and investigation at Guaranty Trust Bank, and corporate finance research at FBNQuest, where he advised on commercial papers, banker’s acceptances, and treasury bills.

Oluwasegun earned a Master of Science in Finance, Accounting, and Management from the University of Bradford School of Management in 2013 and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Babcock University in 2008. He also completed the Chief Executive Program at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University in 2023.

Funke Ijaiya-Oladipo, UACN — N63.93 billion 

Funke Ijaiya-Oladipo serves as Group Finance Director of UAC of Nigeria Plc, a role she has held since August 2021. She oversaw deals totalling N63.93 billion this year.

Prior to her current position, Ijaiya-Oladipo was Group Chief Financial Officer at UAC from December 2020 to August 2021 and Head of Investor Relations from June to December 2020. She has played a central role in transforming finance operations, driving value creation, and strengthening investor confidence across UAC’s subsidiaries.

Before joining UAC, Ijaiya-Oladipo built extensive experience in finance, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions. She worked at Goldman Sachs in London as an Investment Banking Analyst from 2006 to 2008 and at the Standard Bank Group in South Africa as Manager of Corporate Finance in 2012. She also held senior advisory roles at Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited, rising from Associate in Financial Advisory (M&A) in 2009 to Head of Equity Capital Markets in 2019, and serving as Senior Vice President of Financial Advisory.

Ijaiya-Oladipo earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Master of Science in Project & Enterprise Management from University College London. She is a CFA charterholder and serves on the boards of UAC of Nigeria Plc, CHI Limited (Chivita|Hollandia), Grand Cereals Limited, and UAC Foods Limited. She is also a board member of SEO Africa, a non-profit organisation dedicated to developing future African leaders.

Her career reflects over 20 years of expertise in finance, capital markets, and leadership, marked by disciplined capital allocation, operational excellence, and a commitment to talent development and African excellence.

Olawunmi Ehis-Uzenabor, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc — N80.7 billion 

Olawunmi Ehis-Uzenabor serves as Chief Financial Officer of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, a position she assumed in January 2025. In 2025, she has overseen deals totaling N80.7 billion

Prior to becoming CFO, Ehis-Uzenabor held several leadership roles within the Stanbic IBTC Group, including Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, Non-Executive Director at Stanbic IBTC Capital, and Head of Digital & eCommerce for Consumer and High Net Worth Clients.

She has also led performance management initiatives, optimized finance operations for major business segments, and spearheaded transformative digital and e-commerce projects.

Ehis-Uzenabor began her career in finance as an Officer in Internal Audit at Investment Banking and Trust Company Plc before moving to Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers as a Stockbroking Relationship Manager. She subsequently held roles including Head of Financial Control at Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, Head of Finance at Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, and Head of Finance for Personal & Business Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank, steadily advancing through the organization over nearly two decades.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Babcock University between 2000 and 2004 and completed her MBA at Lagos Business School (Pan-Atlantic University) in 2013. A Chartered Accountant, she became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria in 2005.

Ehis-Uzenabor’s career reflects deep expertise across finance, operations, technology, digital transformation, and e-commerce, establishing her as a versatile and strategic finance leader with a track record of delivering sustainable value and performance improvements in the Nigerian banking sector.

Kayode Adewuyi, First City Monument Bank — N100 billion 

Kayode Adewuyi serves as Chief Financial Officer of First City Monument Bank Limited, having assumed the role in August 2021. In 2025, he oversaw deals totalling N100 billion.

Prior to his current position, Adewuyi was Chief Financial Officer of FCMB Group Plc between August 2016 and August 2021, and before that, he led the Mergers & Acquisitions team at FCMB Group, playing a central role in landmark transactions including the acquisitions of Finbank Plc, Legacy Pension Managers Limited, and AIICO Pension Managers Limited.

He began his banking career at First City Monument Bank Plc as Head of Mergers & Acquisitions and previously worked at KPMG Professional Services as a Senior Associate, building a strong foundation in audit, corporate finance, and financial advisory.

Adewuyi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from Lagos Business School. He has further enhanced his executive education by attending programmes at Wharton, INSEAD, and IMD Lausanne, including The CFO: Becoming a Strategic Partner at the Wharton School in 2018. He also holds a Diploma in IFRS from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and has built a career spanning over 20 years with expertise in audit, corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, business integration, and financial advisory, establishing himself as a strategic finance leader in the Nigerian banking sector.

Gbenga Fapohunda, Dangote Cement Plc — N149.7 billion

Gbenga Fapohunda serves as Group Chief Finance Officer of Dangote Cement Plc, having joined the company in 2021 as Regional Chief Finance Officer for Nigeria before being promoted to Group CFO in 2022. In 2025, he oversaw deals totalling N149.7 billion.

Before joining Dangote Cement, Fapohunda held senior leadership roles across multinational companies. He was Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer for West Africa at Japan Tobacco International from 2018 to 2020, where he also served on the board of directors.

From 2016 to 2018, he was Chief Financial Officer at UPS in Nigeria, earning recognition as the best CFO among several countries. Earlier, he led finance operations for British American Tobacco, overseeing 12 countries and serving on its board, and held the role of Head of Internal Audit in Nigeria.

Fapohunda earned an MBA in Finance from London Business School between 2008 and 2010, receiving a full scholarship covering tuition and living expenses. He completed a Doctorate of Business Administration in Strategy at Rome Business School between 2020 and 2023 and holds a Doctor of Business Administration from the Eurasian Management and Administration School – EMAS Business School. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Lagos between 1998 and 2002, where he was recognized as the Most Valuable Player in the department’s soccer competition.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, the Institute of Cost Management Accountants, the Institute of Treasury and Financial Administration, the Institute of Credit & Risk Management, and the Nigerian Institute of Management.

Oscar Mbeche, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc — N386.8 billion 

Oscar Mbeche serves as Group Chief Financial Officer of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc. The company reportedly closed deals worth N386.8 billion in 2025, making it one of the most active players in capital‑market transactions among Nigerian public companies for the year.

With over 30 years of experience across finance, business development, and organizational leadership, he has built a career that spans multiple sectors, including FMCG, oil and gas, banking, high-tech, and auditing.

At Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Mbeche oversees financial reporting, governance, risk management, compliance, internal audit, IT, and process optimization.

Trained at PWC and Deloitte, Mbeche has held senior roles in global companies such as Unilever, UDV-Diageo, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Take Two Interactive, and Petroplus. His international experience covers 25 countries across EMEA and Asia, including Switzerland, the UK, France, Germany, Singapore, Australia, India, China, and Hong Kong. He also served as Group CFO for Philia Group, managing operations in Geneva, Dubai, and Singapore.

Mbeche is a Chartered Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant, having trained at Strathmore University, and has completed professional certifications, including ACCA (Kaplan International College London), Microsoft Certified Professional, and software testing certification from BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

Mbeche earned an MBA from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, specializing in Corporate Finance, Economics, Strategic Management, Leadership, and Marketing, while also participating in the Oxford Business Association for business executives. He also has an MBA from the University of Oxford

Ibukun Oyedeji, Access Bank Plc — N400 billion

Ibukun Oyedeji has been serving as Group Chief Financial Officer at Access Bank Plc since January 2025. Under her leadership, Access Bank led the Nigerian market in 2025, closing deals totalling N400 billion, making it the largest capital market participant among listed banks for the year.

Before joining Access Bank, she served as Chief Financial Officer at Ecobank Nigeria from July 2019 to December 2024, and held senior positions at Ecobank, FBN Capital, and Morgan Stanley. She also served as Managing Director of EDC Fund Management Limited, a member of the Ecobank Group.

Her leadership extends beyond corporate finance. Oyedeji held multiple executive positions at CFA Society Nigeria, including President (2021–2025), Vice President (2017–2021), and Assistant Secretary (2014–2017), demonstrating her influence and commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s financial sector.

Ibukun holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan and a Master of Science in Investments, Banking and Securities from ISMA Centre, University of Reading, UK. She is a CFA Charterholder, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), and an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).