Report: Nine in ten Nigerians say women can lead corporate institutions

The Reykjavik Index for Leadership 2025–2026 has revealed that a large majority of Nigerians believe women are capable of leading major corporate institutions, indicating strong public support for female leadership despite institutional barriers.

Findings from the Nigeria Leadership Readiness report show that nearly nine in ten Nigerians are comfortable with women occupying top leadership roles in the country’s corporate sector. 

However, the report noted that while societal acceptance has grown, institutional structures have yet to fully reflect that shift.

The findings were presented during a virtual meeting that brought together women from various sectors across the country to discuss the Reykjavik Index for Leadership 2025.

According to the report, Nigeria’s overall index score improved to 59 from 57 recorded in the previous year, reflecting gradual progress in public attitudes toward women in leadership.

The report stated that 89 per cent of Nigerians are comfortable with women serving as chief executive officers of major companies, while 77 per cent expressed support for women occupying political leadership positions. It also noted a three-point increase in men’s index score, which rose from 53 to 56, driven largely by greater acceptance of women’s leadership among older men.

Despite this progress in perception, the report highlighted a gap between public support for women leaders and the reality within workplaces. It noted that while leadership acceptance is close to 90 per cent, only 55 per cent of Nigerians believe gender equality exists in the workplace.

According to the report, this 34-point gap suggests that institutional systems have not kept pace with public sentiment. It emphasised that the challenge now lies in translating widespread acceptance of women’s leadership into tangible workplace equality.

The index also identified sectors such as banking, finance, education and pharmaceuticals as areas where women’s leadership has produced profitable and scalable outcomes. Other sectors with notable female leadership include childcare, fashion and engineering.

However, the report pointed out that some industries remain largely male-dominated, including aerospace and automotive, though recent progress has been recorded in these fields.

While Nigeria’s index score rose from 57 to 59, the report observed a decline in the perception of workplace equality. In 2024, about 62 per cent of Nigerians believed gender equality had been achieved at work, but this figure dropped to 55 per cent in 2025.

The report concluded that although women’s leadership is increasingly recognised and accepted, more work is needed to ensure institutional systems and workplace practices align with this growing public support.

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