Mayowa Olaniyan is a Nigerian business executive and chartered accountant who serves as the Group Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chams Holding Company Plc. She is the first woman to lead the technology and fintech group, which is listed on the Nigerian Exchange. Her rise within Nigeria’s business landscape reflects years of discipline, strategic career growth and deep institutional expertise.
For decades, Nigeria’s corporate technology sector remained largely dominated by men, with only a few women occupying positions where major business and strategic decisions were made. However, across boardrooms and publicly listed companies, female executives are steadily redefining leadership through resilience, competence and transformational impact, reshaping the future of corporate Nigeria.
Unlike many high-profile executive appointments that emerge from external recruitment, Olaniyan’s journey to the top of Chams Holdings was built through years of service within the organisation, earning her reputation through consistency and operational excellence.
Her appointment as Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in December 2022, following the retirement of Gavin Young, was seen by many industry stakeholders as a reward for years of dedication and deep understanding of the company’s operational structure.
Today, she leads one of Nigeria’s foremost indigenous technology and identity management companies at a time when digital transformation has become central to national development and economic growth.
Under her leadership, Chams Holdings recorded a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N417.09 million in the 2025 financial year, maintaining profitability despite the harsh economic realities confronting businesses across the country.
The achievement is particularly significant given the increasing competition within Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, rising operational costs, inflationary pressures and the growing demand for innovation-driven services.
For Olaniyan, however, corporate leadership did not begin in the executive office.
A Chartered Accountant with close to three decades of professional experience, she began her career in 1994 as an Audit Trainee at Bolaji Finnih before joining SCOA Nigeria Plc, where she spent 13 years rising steadily through managerial positions.
Those formative years shaped what many colleagues describe as her governance-focused leadership style, built around accountability, operational discipline, financial prudence and long-term strategic planning.
After leaving SCOA Nigeria Plc, she joined Tranter International Ltd as Group Finance and Administration Manager before moving to the Chams Group, where her career would eventually attain national recognition.
Within the Chams ecosystem, Olaniyan occupied several strategic positions, each contributing to her broad understanding of business operations and corporate governance.
She served as Assistant General Manager of Corporate Services at Supercard Ltd, a subsidiary of Chams Holdings, before becoming Group Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management.
Her career progression within the organisation also saw her serve as General Manager of Finance and Accounts, General Manager of Special Duties, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director and later Managing Director of ChamsMobile Limited.
At ChamsMobile, she played a critical role in strengthening the company’s footprint within mobile and digital financial services, an area that has become increasingly important in Nigeria’s evolving fintech and digital economy.
Industry observers note that her experience across finance, risk management, audit and digital operations provided her with the institutional depth required to lead a technology-driven company in a highly competitive environment.
Beyond the boardroom, Olaniyan’s leadership story reflects the growing impact of women in sectors where female representation at executive level has historically been limited.
Her rise continues to inspire many young women seeking opportunities within technology, finance and corporate leadership, proving that professional excellence and consistency remain powerful tools for breaking institutional barriers.
In recent years, conversations around gender inclusion within Nigeria’s corporate sector have intensified, particularly as more women emerge at the helm of major organisations across banking, manufacturing, telecommunications and technology.
For many analysts, leaders like Olaniyan represent not just progress for women, but a broader shift towards competence-driven leadership within the Nigerian corporate environment.
Her academic and professional credentials further reinforce her standing within the industry.
She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and also a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. In addition, she holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School.
As Nigeria continues to deepen its digital economy and expand opportunities within the technology sector, executives like Mayowa Olaniyan are increasingly becoming central to shaping the future of indigenous innovation and corporate sustainability.
Her journey from audit trainee to chief executive officer remains a compelling example of perseverance, institutional loyalty and visionary leadership.
At a time when more women are breaking barriers across Nigeria’s economic landscape, Olaniyan’s story stands as both an inspiration and a reminder that impactful leadership is often built steadily — through years of hard work, competence and commitment to excellence.
Widely recognized for her financial discipline and strategic insight, Olaniyan has spoken on cross-border payments and institutional trust in African fintech contexts. Her leadership emphasizes governance, innovation, and gender equity in corporate management.
