By Burnett Munthali
Arunma Oteh, a distinguished leader in global finance and development, has been named the 2025 Forbes Women Africa Change Maker of the Decade, an accolade that crowns years of transformational leadership and unwavering advocacy for Africa’s place in the world economy.
The award was presented at the 10th edition of the Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit, held in Pretoria, South Africa, a prestigious event that drew together some of the continent’s most influential and impactful female leaders.
This particular honour recognises Oteh’s sustained commitment to driving inclusive economic development, pioneering reforms in financial systems, and promoting the empowerment of African women across various sectors.
In bestowing the award, Forbes Africa praised her as “a force of visionary change whose work over the past decade has empowered economies and elevated African voices in global corridors of power.”
Oteh’s career spans critical leadership roles that have shaped not only Nigeria’s financial architecture but also had a ripple effect across global financial institutions.
Among her most impactful appointments was her tenure as the Director-General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission, where she led sweeping reforms to cleanse and modernise Nigeria’s capital markets.
Her work in Nigeria laid a foundation for transparency, investor confidence, and regulatory excellence, which continue to influence African financial governance today.
Oteh later served as the Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank, where she oversaw key investment and treasury operations, further cementing her influence on the global financial landscape.
Currently, she serves as Chairperson of the 124-year-old Royal African Society, a London-based institution that promotes African affairs and elevates discourse around the continent’s development and cultural heritage.
She is also an Executive-in-Residence at the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, where she mentors future leaders and shares her knowledge on capital markets, financial resilience, and leadership in the 21st century.
At the awards ceremony, Oteh expressed humility and gratitude, dedicating the recognition to “every African woman transforming communities with courage and integrity.”
She emphasized that the continent is at a critical juncture in history, stating, “Africa’s time is now,” and reaffirming the need for African women to be at the centre of its transformation.
Her remarks resonated deeply with delegates at the summit, many of whom are engaged in development work, innovation, public policy, and social change across the African continent.
The summit itself was a dynamic and symbolic gathering, not only reflecting on past achievements of African women but also envisioning new frontiers of gender equality, leadership, and economic justice.
In his keynote address, Sid Wahi, Executive Director of Forbes Africa, applauded the progress made by African women over the last decade, pointing to their growing prominence in boardrooms, government, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Wahi, however, also cautioned that despite these gains, the global gender gap remains a stubborn reality that must be confronted with urgency and purpose.
He asserted that women should not only be included in discussions on technology, climate change, and innovation—they must lead them.
The recognition of Arunma Oteh stands as both a personal milestone and a powerful symbol of what is possible when vision, courage, and commitment converge in a woman determined to change the world.
It affirms that African women are not merely catching up with global standards—they are setting them.
For young African women watching from afar, Oteh’s journey offers a compelling blueprint for navigating leadership with integrity, excellence, and an unyielding focus on social impact.
In celebrating her, the Forbes Women Africa Change Maker of the Decade Award illuminates the potential of women to redefine what is possible on the continent and across the globe.
Arunma Oteh’s legacy continues to inspire, proving that impactful leadership is about more than occupying positions—it is about transforming lives and creating pathways for others to thrive.
Her decade-long commitment to elevating Africa’s voice on the world stage now takes its rightful place in history, as a beacon for future generations and a testament to what African women can achieve when given space, trust, and opportunity.
