Meet 16 powerful women in President Tinubu’s administration 

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Since taking office in 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pursued one of the most consequential economic reset agendas in Nigeria’s recent history, scrapping fuel subsidies, unifying the FX market, and signalling a return to market-led policy.

But beyond the headline reforms and volatile macro data lies a quieter, strategic shift in governance: the elevation of women into critical ministerial, agency, and parastatal roles that sit at the heart of execution.

In his cabinet alone, out of the 48 ministers, seven are women.

While inflation and currency pressures have tested households and businesses, financial markets have told a more optimistic story.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited has rallied sharply, buoyed by reform momentum, banking sector recapitalisation plays, and a gradual re-entry of foreign portfolio investors seeking yield and policy clarity.

This piece tracks the women(in no order of ranking)shaping that transition, leaders tasked with translating reform into results across finance, trade, regulation, and state-owned enterprises.

Their influence offers a distinct lens into how Tinubu’s economic agenda is being implemented, and whether Nigeria’s early market gains can evolve into sustained, broad-based growth.

Didi Esther Walson-Jack  

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation 

Didi Esther Walson-Jack has spent more than three decades navigating the machinery of Nigeria’s public service, building a reputation as a reform-minded insider with a track record of turning bureaucratic systems into functioning institutions.

Her ascent to the pinnacle came in July 2024, when Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed her Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, placing her in charge of one of Africa’s largest government workforces at a time when efficiency, digitisation and accountability are under increasing scrutiny.

Born in Port Harcourt in 1966, Walson-Jack trained as a lawyer at the University of Lagos before beginning her career in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice. The creation of Bayelsa State in 1996 opened a defining chapter: as one of its early technocrats, she helped build legal and legislative frameworks from scratch, often operating across multiple arms of government in a system short on manpower but high on urgency.

That ability to operate across silos would become a hallmark. Rising through roles from Solicitor-General to Permanent Secretary, she later transitioned to the federal civil service, where she championed internal reforms from staff welfare systems to performance incentives while navigating the politics of labour negotiations and public sector change.

Zubaida Umar Abubakar 

Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria 

Zubaida Umar Abubakar is Director-General of Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), appointed in March 2024 by President Bola Tinubu. She oversees the country’s disaster preparedness, response coordination, and humanitarian interventions amid rising climate and security-related emergencies.

A career public sector administrator, Abubakar has over two decades of experience spanning public finance, housing finance, and institutional management. She previously served at the Debt Management Office from 2000 to 2006 before moving to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), where she held a series of senior roles across strategy, corporate communications, and regional operations.

Her tenure at FMBN culminated in her appointment as Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services in 2022, overseeing financial management and institutional operations at the state-backed mortgage lender.

She holds a degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a master’s in International Trade from Robert Gordon University Business School in the United Kingdom. She is also a member of multiple professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

Olu A. Verheijen 

Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Nigeria 

Olu Verheijen is an energy executive and policy adviser with nearly two decades of experience across gas, power, and renewable energy markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her work spans investment strategy, energy transition advisory, and infrastructure development across both public and private sectors.

She serves as Special Adviser on Energy to President Bola Tinubu, where she supports national energy policy, sector reforms, and investment coordination across Nigeria’s oil, gas, and power value chains.

Verheijen is Managing Director of Latimer Energy, a consulting firm focused on value optimisation in energy asset acquisition, development, and management. She previously held roles as a Partner at Persistent, an early-stage investment firm backing distributed renewable energy companies, and as a deal lead at Shell, where she worked on gas commercialisation and M&A transactions. Earlier in her career, she worked at Moody’s Investors Service in New York.

She is also the founder of the BFA Foundation, which provides scholarships to women and underserved groups pursuing careers in high-growth sectors, including energy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Long Island University and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

Kemi Nandap 

Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria 

Kemi Nandap is a career immigration officer and public administrator with over three decades of experience in border management, migration policy, and national security operations within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). She has held multiple command and leadership roles across the service, including oversight of migration directorates and airport commands.

She was appointed Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service in January 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, becoming the head of the agency responsible for immigration control, passport administration, and border security.

Born on 3 June 1966 in Zaria, Kaduna State, with roots in Ogun State, Nandap holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin, a Master’s in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the University of Jos, and an MBA from the University of Abuja.

She joined the NIS in 1989 and rose through the ranks from Assistant Superintendent to Deputy Comptroller-General, where she oversaw migration operations and international cooperation on issues including human trafficking and cross-border crime.

Her leadership has focused on modernising Nigeria’s immigration systems, including the rollout of digital passport processing, e-border solutions, and advanced passenger data systems to enhance security and efficiency.

Jane Egerton-Idehen 

Managing Director & CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Nigeria 

Jane Egerton-Idehen is a Nigerian engineer, technology executive, and investor with more than 17 years of experience across global telecommunications and digital platforms, spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Her career has focused on scaling products, building high-performing sales organizations, and driving market expansion for multinational firms.

She was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT in October 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, where she leads Nigeria’s satellite communications company, overseeing strategy, commercial growth, and digital infrastructure development.

Egerton-Idehen studied Electronics Engineering at the University of Nigeria and holds an MBA from Warwick Business School. She began her career as an earth station engineer before transitioning into commercial leadership roles.

Her professional trajectory includes senior positions at Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks, as well as leadership roles at Avanti Communications and Meta, where she served as Head of Sales for the Middle East and Africa.

Beyond corporate leadership, she is an angel investor, strategic advisor, and author of Be Fearless: Give Yourself Permission To Be You.

Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye 

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Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria 

Mojisola Adeyeye is the Director-General of NAFDAC, reappointed in February 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, continuing a tenure that began in 2017. She leads Nigeria’s food and drug regulatory authority, overseeing standards for medicines, food safety, and public health regulation.

A professor of pharmaceutics and regulatory science, Adeyeye earned her B.S. from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, USA. She is Professor Emeritus of Pharmaceutics and Drug Product Evaluation at Roosevelt University and previously spent over two decades at Duquesne University in the United States.

Her career spans academia, pharmaceutical research, and global regulatory leadership. She is a Senior Fulbright Scholar and has contributed extensively to drug development, manufacturing systems, and regulatory science, with multiple patents and peer-reviewed publications.

As head of NAFDAC, she has led institutional reforms focused on strengthening regulatory systems, improving operational standards, and expanding local pharmaceutical manufacturing. Under her leadership, the agency achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification and WHO Maturity Level 3 recognition.

She has also introduced reforms in pharmacovigilance, traceability systems, and Good Manufacturing Practice inspections, while supporting policies aimed at increasing access to essential medicines and strengthening Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.

Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku

Managing Director & Chief Executive, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) 

Olubunmi Kuku is the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), appointed in December 2023 as the first woman to lead the agency.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois (2000) and an MBA in International Finance and Strategic Management from DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business (2004).

Before her appointment at FAAN, Kuku built a two-decade career spanning global consulting, financial services, and aviation infrastructure. She held senior leadership roles at Visa, where she served as Vice President and Head of Visa Consulting and Analytics for Sub-Saharan Africa, and at Ernst & Young (EY) as a Partner in Business Consulting. She previously served as General Manager for Business Development and Investment at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA),

Kuku has also worked with multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), International Finance Corporation (IFC), ECOWAS, and USAID.

Tola Odeyemi 

Postmaster General & CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Nigeria 

Tola Odeyemi is the Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), appointed in October 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.

An engineer and public policy specialist, Odeyemi was born on 31 July 1980 in Ibadan, Oyo State. She studied Electrical Engineering at Morgan State University and later earned a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from George Washington University.

She began her career in the public sector and infrastructure development, including roles at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where she worked on payment systems, financial inclusion, and digital infrastructure projects supporting the cashless policy agenda.

Odeyemi later served in the Lagos State Government as Special Assistant on Global Outreach and Partnerships and Executive Secretary within environmental and public utilities initiatives under the state’s reform programmes.

At Uber, she led public policy for West Africa, and at Binance, served as Head of Government Affairs for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu 

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nigeria 

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu is Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, appointed in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu. She supports the country’s external affairs portfolio, including diplomacy, consular engagement, and international relations strategy.

A lawyer, diplomat, and former beauty queen, she was born on 5 August 1967 in Anambra State, Nigeria. She studied law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 after attending the Nigerian Law School in Lagos.

Her academic background includes a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Spain, as well as postgraduate diplomas in Human Rights and International Relations (Berg Institute, Madrid) and Dynamics of Conflict and Cooperation (University for Peace, Costa Rica).

Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Diaspora Matters before being appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain (2012–2015), where she also represented the country at the UN World Tourism Organization. She earlier served as Ambassador to Ghana.

Omolola Oloworaran  

 Director General of Nigeria’s National Pension Commission (PenCom) 

Omolola Oloworaran is the Director General of Nigeria’s National Pension Commission (PenCom), where she assumed office in acting capacity in July 2024, pending Senate confirmation in line with the Pension Reform Act 2014. She leads the regulator overseeing the country’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), with a mandate to strengthen pension asset growth, compliance, and coverage expansion.

Oloworaran brings over two decades of experience across financial services and capital markets. She began her career at Citibank before moving through roles at Renaissance Capital, FDHL Consulting, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and First Bank of Nigeria, where she served as Group Head of First Shared Services.

She is an accounting graduate of the University of Ilorin, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI). She also holds an MBA from Manchester Business School and has completed executive training in AI-driven business transformation at INSEAD.

Jumoke Oduwole, MFR

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria 

Jumoke Oduwole is Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, appointed in November 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, where she leads policy direction on trade, investment promotion, industrial development, and business environment reforms.

A jurist and public policy expert, she was born on 23 September 1973 in Lagos, Nigeria. She studied law at the University of Lagos, graduating in 1998 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1999. She later obtained an LL.M. in Commercial Law from the University of Cambridge and a master’s degree and doctorate in International Legal Studies and International Trade and Development from Stanford University.

Oduwole previously served in multiple senior government roles, including Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business (2019–2023) and Senior Special Assistant on Industry, Trade and Investment (2015–2019), where she supported over 200 business climate reforms and contributed to AfCFTA implementation frameworks.

Before public service, she worked in investment banking at FCMB Capital Markets and Guaranty Trust Bank. She is also an academic at the University of Lagos, and has held fellowships and advisory roles with global institutions including Harvard Kennedy School and the World Economic Forum.

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim

Minister of Women Affairs, Nigeria 

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, where she leads federal policy on gender equity, women’s empowerment, and social protection programmes targeting women, children, and vulnerable groups.

A public administrator and business executive, she was raised in Abuja and holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Abuja, earned at age 19. She later obtained two postgraduate degrees an MBA and an MA from Webster University at age 21. She also completed professional training in human resources and enterprise systems, including SAP HCM certification.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim began her career at the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) before working in human resources and management roles in the United Kingdom and later in private sector enterprise development, including leadership roles in sales and consultancy.

In public service, she has held several strategic positions. She served as Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in 2020–2021, where she focused on anti-trafficking enforcement and victim protection. She was later appointed Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, overseeing humanitarian response coordination.

In 2023, she became the first female Minister of Police Affairs under President Bola Tinubu’s administration before transitioning to her current role as Minister of Women Affairs.

Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad 

Minister of State for Education, Nigeria 

Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad is Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, appointed in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu and confirmed by the Senate. She supports national education policy, sector coordination, and reform implementation across basic, tertiary, and technical education systems.

Born in Babura, Jigawa State, Ahmad is a professor of Science Education and a trained educationist with over 17 years of academic and policy experience.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Science Education (2003) and a Master’s in Curriculum Studies (2009) from Bayero University Kano, and later obtained a PhD in Science Education from Ahmadu Bello University in 2014.

Her academic career spans teaching, research, and administration at Bayero University Kano, where she served as Head of Department, Sub-Dean Academics, and Director of the Centre for Gender Studies. She later became Associate Professor of Chemistry Education before her elevation to Professor of Science Education.

From 2020 to 2024, she served as Provost of Jigawa State College of Education, Ringim, overseeing institutional reforms and academic development.

Hadiza Bala Usman

Special Adviser on Policy Coordination to the President, Nigeria 

Hadiza Bala Usman is Special Adviser on Policy Coordination to President Bola Tinubu, appointed in June 2023, where she oversees cross-ministerial policy alignment and national delivery coordination under the Central Delivery Coordination Unit.

She is a public administrator and policy expert with over two decades of experience spanning governance, public sector reform, and development advocacy. Born on 2 January 1976 in Zaria, Kaduna State, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University and a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Leeds.

Usman began her career at the Centre for Democratic Development and Research Training before moving into public service roles, including the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Federal Capital Territory Administration under the UNDP framework. In 2015, she became Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kaduna State, the first woman to hold the position.

From 2016 to 2021, she served as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, where she led institutional reforms and port modernization initiatives.

She is also a co-founder of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, which advocated for the rescue of abducted schoolgirls in Chibok. In 2023, she was appointed to her current federal role, focusing on improving policy execution, inter-agency coordination, and the delivery of government priorities.

Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, CFA

Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Nigeria 

Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite is Nigeria’s Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, where she supports national fiscal coordination, development planning, and economic policy execution within the federal government’s medium- and long-term growth framework.

A medical doctor turned banker and public finance executive, Uzoka-Anite was born on 16 October 1973 in Oguta, Imo State. She earned her MBBS from the University of Benin before transitioning into finance, later obtaining the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and completing a TRIUM Global Executive MBA.

Before entering federal cabinet roles, she built a career in banking at Zenith Bank, where she worked across corporate social responsibility, human resources, and treasury functions, eventually becoming the bank’s treasurer.

In 2021, she was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Coordinator of the Economy in Imo State, where she led state-level fiscal reforms and economic coordination initiatives. She was later appointed to the federal cabinet in 2023 as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

In March 2026, she transitioned to Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, where she supports the coordination of fiscal policy, national development planning, and budget execution across federal ministries and agencies.

Hannatu Musa Musawa 

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy 

Hannatu Musa Musawa is Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, appointed in 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, where she oversees policy direction for the country’s creative, cultural, and tourism industries.

A lawyer and human rights activist, Musawa studied law at the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003. She later obtained a Master of Laws in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen and has pursued further legal training in international arbitration and bar qualification studies in New York.

Before entering public office, Musawa previously served as in-house legal counsel to firms including Continental Transfer Technique Limited and CONTEC Global, where she worked on expatriate immigration compliance frameworks such as CERPAC.

Earlier in her career, she worked with the chambers of the late Chief Clement Akpangbo, former Attorney General of the Federation, and was involved in engagements linked to Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel).

Musawa is the founder and Principal Partner of Hanney Musawa & Associates, a law firm focused on litigation and arbitration, including cross-border matters.

Prior to her ministerial appointment, she served as Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Culture and the Creative Economy, where she helped shape early policy direction for the sector.