By Blossom Ukoha On 23 January 2025, Arunma Oteh stood at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, to launch All Hands on Deck, the book she wrote about how world-class capital markets can help nations, companies and individuals create lasting prosperity. The occasion was part of a two-day celebration of her 60th birthday, which she marked on 24 January. It was a fitting setting for a woman whose career has been defined by capital, institutions and economic development. From Nigeria’s financial markets to the African Development Bank, from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the World Bank Treasury, Oteh has spent decades operating at some of the most consequential levels of African and international finance. Yet her journey to those rooms began without a powerful title. It began with a young Nigerian woman choosing computer science at a time when relatively few women were entering the field and developing the…

By Blossom Ukoha There is a particular moment in a career when experience stops being measured by the number of positions held and begins to be measured by the weight of responsibility entrusted to you. For Linda Naa Dzama Quaynor, that moment came on 24 August 2026, when years spent navigating consulting, financial services, public policy and corporate strategy culminated in a historic appointment: becoming the first woman to chair the Board of UBA Ghana. Her appointment is significant not simply because she is the first woman to occupy the position. It is also a reflection of a career built across industries, institutions and countries, giving her a perspective that stretches well beyond the traditional boundaries of banking. With more than 25 years of professional experience across Africa and international markets, Quaynor steps into the role with a record shaped by transformation, financial inclusion, governance and strategic leadership. A Career…

By Blossom Ukoha Some leadership journeys begin with a title. Others begin long before anyone is watching, in classrooms, courtrooms, committee rooms and the quiet decisions that gradually build a reputation. For Mrs. Ifeyinwa Osime, the journey to the chairmanship of Access Bank Plc was not an overnight ascent. It was decades in the making: a journey through law, insurance, corporate governance and board leadership that ultimately placed her at the helm of one of Africa’s major financial institutions. In January 2026, Osime was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Access Bank Plc, succeeding Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, who retired after completing his regulatory tenure. Her elevation marked another significant moment for women in Nigerian financial services, but perhaps more importantly, it represented the culmination of a woman who had spent years quietly preparing for the opportunity to lead. As Group Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR,…

“I am delighted to be taking up the role of Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja. I look forward to getting to know this extraordinary country, meeting people from across Nigeria’s diverse communities, and building on the strong partnership that already exists between our two countries. Together, I hope we can continue creating opportunities for greater collaboration and links between our people in the years ahead.” — Vicky Seymour For Vicky Seymour, her new posting in Abuja is about more than assuming a senior diplomatic position. It is an opportunity to deepen a relationship between two countries connected by history, trade, development, security, migration, education and millions of personal relationships. Appointed Deputy High Commissioner at the British High Commission in Abuja in August 2026, Seymour arrives with more than two decades of experience spanning diplomacy, international development, trade, climate, security and government service. Her career across Africa and other complex international…