The Top CEOs/MDs Running Asset Management Firms in Nigeria 

Asset management firms have become much more than just portfolio managers in Nigeria’s evolving financial ecosystem. They are now pivotal players in the economy funding infrastructure, supporting industrial growth, and offering investment options to an expanding pool of individuals and institutions seeking to build wealth. 

With over ₦5.9 trillion in total net asset value (NAV), these firms manage everything from low-risk money market funds to aggressive equity portfolios and everything in between.

But behind the numbers and strategies are key decision-makers, chief executives who steer these companies, shape policy, and define investor confidence. In this feature, we spotlight five top CEOs and MDs at the helm of Nigeria’s leading asset management firms as of June 2025. 

Their stories shows a blend of technical expertise, strategic leadership, and a shared mission to democratize wealth creation in Nigeria.

Olubusola Jejelowo – CEO, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited

At the top of the industry is Olubusola Jejelowo, the CEO of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, which currently manages over ₦2.6 trillion in assets. Jejelowo brings nearly 20 years of internal experience within the Stanbic IBTC Group and was appointed CEO in June 2023.

Her leadership is not just about figures, it’s about accessibility. Under her watch, the firm has leaned into technology to make investing easier for ordinary Nigerians, with tools like BluNest simplifying the investment journey. 

Before rising to the top job, she had already made her mark as Executive Director for Investment Management and Head of Wealth and Investment.

Jejelowo’s time at the helm has seen the firm double down on financial inclusion pushing investing beyond high-net-worth individuals and making it part of everyday life. 

That ethos aligns with the larger goals of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, a subsidiary of Africa’s banking giant, Standard Bank Group, which has been active in Nigeria since the early 1990s.

Ike Onyia – MD/CEO, First Asset Management Limited (FAML)

With a commanding NAV of ₦762.9 billion, First Asset Management Limited (FAML) owes much of its strong footing to Ike Onyia, who has led the firm since 2016. 

A veteran in Nigeria’s capital market space, Onyia brings over 20 years of hands-on experience that spans corporate finance, investment advisory, private equity, and portfolio management.

More than just a CEO, Onyia is a builder. His résumé includes top roles at Fiducia Capital, Zenith Capital, FSDH Asset Management, and Parsifal Partners each shaping his deep insight into Nigeria’s complex investment terrain. 

He also helped form the Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN), an important milestone in the industry’s regulatory maturity.

Onyia is a King’s College Lagos alumnus and holds an MSc in International Economics, Banking, and Finance from the University of Wales. Today, he not only leads FAML but also sits on the boards of FBNQuest Capital and FBNQuest Funds, continuing to shape Nigeria’s financial narrative both from the top and behind the scenes.

Dr. Odiri Oginni – CEO, United Capital Asset Management Ltd

At the heart of United Capital Asset Management’s impressive rise to over ₦642.7 billion in NAV is Dr. Odiri Oginnia, respected CFA Charterholder, ICAN Fellow, and strategist with almost two decades of experience. 

She brings a powerful mix of technical proficiency and visionary leadership to the firm.

Before becoming CEO, Oginni held key roles across finance and investment, including Group CFO at United Capital Plc and top finance positions at UBA Global Markets, Deloitte, and BGL Plc. 

Her experience across multiple sectors allows her to approach asset management from a broad, interconnected perspective.

Notably, Dr. Oginni is also an advocate for causes beyond the boardroom. She currently serves as Vice President of CFA Society Nigeria and is an active member of the Forbes Finance Council. 

Her academic research at Lagos Business School explored the impact of social norms on investment behavior, an area she now incorporates into product design and investor education. In many ways, she represents the new face of finance in Nigeria: rigorous, inclusive, and deeply attuned to investor psychology.

Wale Odutola – Incoming CEO, ARM Investment Managers Limited

Wale Odutola steps into the top job at ARM Investment Managers with more than a solid résumé, he comes with a legacy. Recently appointed as Group CEO of ARM Holding Company in July 2025, Odutola is no stranger to the firm. 

His journey across the ARM ecosystem has touched nearly every part of the business, from pensions to real estate and asset management.

With a background in accountancy from the University of Lagos and executive education from Harvard Business School, Odutola combines academic pedigree with deep sector experience. 

He previously served as MD of ARM Pensions, where he helped grow the firm into a household name in Nigeria’s pension industry. His leadership there wasn’t just about scale, but also about trust, something critical in Nigeria’s investment environment.

Odutola’s re-entry into asset management is expected to usher in a new wave of strategic partnerships, product diversification, and investor engagement. As he takes the reins at ARM Investment Managers, which currently oversees ₦513.5 billion in assets, the market is watching closely.

Bolaji Balogun – CEO, Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited

Few names carry as much weight in Nigeria’s financial markets as Bolaji Balogun. As CEO of Chapel Hill Denham, he’s more than just a fund manager, he’s a dealmaker with a career that spans investment banking, asset management, and telecommunications.

With a current NAV of ₦225.6 billion under Chapel Hill Denham’s management, Balogun has been instrumental in defining what successful capital raising looks like in Nigeria. 

After cutting his teeth at FCMB and helping to co-found Econet Wireless Nigeria (now Airtel Nigeria), Balogun returned to his roots in investment banking and launched Chapel Hill Denham in 2005.

Beyond the boardroom, he chairs Unilever Nigeria and Endeavor Nigeria, and serves on several other corporate boards. He is also deeply involved in public-private sector dialogue, sitting as Co-Chair of the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council and a member of the UN SDG Private Sector Advisory Group.

Kelvin F. Barida – Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Fund Managers Limited

Kelvin F. Biiranee Barida took over as MD of Guaranty Trust Fund Managers in July 2022, bringing a rare blend of deep technical knowledge and strategic leadership. 

A former standout student from the University of Port Harcourt, Barida’s academic journey also includes stints at the University of Lagos, Manchester, and Warwick, with advanced executive education from Lagos Business School and IESE, Spain.

He’s not just book-smart. With over 20 years of real-world experience across wealth management, auditing, and banking, Barida has led teams in both the retail and institutional banking sectors. 

Now at the helm of GTCO’s asset management arm, he’s combining discipline with ambition to grow the firm’s ₦204.7 billion portfolio.

Barida is widely respected for his regulatory insight, he’s a Fellow of four major professional bodies and a licensed fund and investment adviser. In a sector where credibility is everything, his strong professional standing gives clients a sense of security and trust.

Deji Tunde-Anjous – MD, AXA Mansard Investments Limited

Since taking over as CEO of AXA Mansard Investments in 2019, Deji Tunde-Anjous has been on a mission to future-proof the firm. His leadership has emphasized digital transformation integrating automation and artificial intelligence into how portfolios are managed, how risks are analyzed, and how clients interact with the firm.

Tunde-Anjous is a product of global education, with degrees in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Sheffield and executive training in digital strategy from IMD in Switzerland. 

That international exposure reflects in his leadership style: forward-thinking, systems-oriented, and technology-driven.

As part of AXA Mansard Group, one of Nigeria’s most diversified financial institutions, his firm serves both individual investors and institutions. 

But what sets Tunde-Anjous apart is his focus on making the investment process seamless and intelligent, using tech not just as a tool, but as a philosophy.

Kennedy Phillip Ichibor, CFA – MD, Quantum Zenith Capital & Investments Limited

Kennedy Ichibor leads Quantum Zenith Capital, the investment arm of Zenith Bank, with a clear focus: execute big deals and do them right. 

A Chartered Accountant and CFA Charterholder, Ichibor has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s capital markets for over 20 years.

From FMCG to agriculture to energy, Ichibor has helped structure large financing deals for multinationals and public entities alike. 

He’s not just a fund manager, he’s a capital strategist. Under his guidance, Quantum Zenith has developed a reputation for handling complex, high-value investment transactions.

Ichibor’s background from the University of Benin, paired with his deep banking experience, makes him a natural bridge between corporate finance and fund management. 

In a space where many firms struggle to scale beyond retail investors, he’s steering Quantum Zenith toward institutional dominance and long-term impact.

Oluwayemisi Ogunmola – MD, EDC Fund Management Limited

A seasoned hand in Nigeria’s investment space, Oluwayemisi Ogunmola brings more than 20 years of cross-sector experience to her role as MD of EDC Fund Management, the asset management subsidiary of Ecobank. 

Her journey within Ecobank began in fund distribution, where she grew the bank’s West African investment footprint.

Ogunmola’s career reflects a consistent theme building bridges between investors and products. Whether through retail channels or regional partnerships, she’s helped reshape how investors in West Africa engage with capital markets.

With degrees in Computer Science and Marketing from the University of Lagos, she blends technical acumen with an eye for customer engagement. 

Her leadership at EDC is focused on expanding portfolio options while making investment products more accessible, especially for retail clients often overlooked by larger institutions.

Toyin Owolabi – MD, FSDH Asset Management Limited

Toyin Owolabi’s path to becoming MD of FSDH Asset Management is steeped in real-world banking experience. Having served in critical roles at FCMB and IMB International Bank, Owolabi’s knowledge spans treasury operations, structured funding, correspondent banking, and institutional client services.

Now heading FSDH’s asset management division, he brings the mindset of a banker into a role that demands agility, foresight, and relationship building. 

His educational background includes a degree in Agriculture from the University of Ilorin and an MBA from Business School Netherlands proof that leadership in finance doesn’t always follow a straight line.

At FSDH, he’s focused on building stronger ties with institutional clients, while helping the firm evolve with changing investor demands. His leadership reflects quiet strength grounded in consistency, not flash.