Women Leading the Charge in Governance and Sustainability: How African Professionals Are Redefining Corporate Integrity

By Tosin Clegg
As global corporations face increasing pressure to align profitability with purpose, women professionals across Africa are stepping into pivotal roles shaping governance, sustainability, and financial transparency. From audit reform to ESG accountability, these leaders are influencing how companies define integrity in a post-pandemic world and their impact is being felt well beyond the continent.

In Nigeria, where the conversation around corporate ethics and sustainability has accelerated in recent years, a new generation of female professionals is bridging the gap between global best practices and local realities. Among them is Tolulope Sotola, a Nigerian finance and audit expert whose work spans governance, sustainability reporting, and risk management across the United Kingdom and Africa.

Speaking with ThisDay, Sotola emphasized that this is more than a gender milestone, it’s a turning point for corporate culture.

“Women in governance are redefining what accountability means,” she said. “Our focus isn’t only on financial results but on the integrity of systems — how organizations treat their people, manage resources, and engage communities. That broader view is essential to building resilient economies.”

Sotola, who began her career at KPMG Nigeria before moving to Deloitte UK, has worked with audit teams implementing international reporting frameworks such as IFRS, Integrated Reporting (IR), and ESG assurance standards. Her experience reflects a growing movement of African professionals trained in global governance systems who are now influencing reform across both private and public sectors.

Globally, this movement coincides with the rise of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics as key indicators of business credibility. Investors and regulators now view sustainability as integral to risk management and increasingly, women professionals are at the forefront of enforcing that link.

In the United Kingdom, female leaders in finance have taken leading roles in ESG integration and audit innovation, shaping how organizations navigate transparency and stakeholder accountability. In Nigeria, the story is similar. As the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) push for enhanced sustainability disclosure, women professionals are driving compliance and cultural change inside organizations.

“Women tend to bring a holistic approach to governance,” Sotola observed. “We look at long-term impact not just short-term returns. Whether it’s in boardrooms, audit committees, or sustainability teams, that perspective helps build trust.”

Her remarks come at a time when Nigeria’s financial and corporate sectors are undergoing significant transformation. In 2023, several leading banks, oil and gas firms, and manufacturing companies published their first integrated sustainability reports, reflecting global ESG disclosure trends. Yet, experts argue that effective governance is about more than data, it’s about leadership that fosters accountability.

Sotola points out that inclusion is not only an ethical issue but also an economic one.

“Diversity in leadership strengthens corporate performance. Studies consistently show that companies with more diverse boards are more profitable, more innovative, and more trusted by investors,” she noted. “That’s why the conversation must go beyond token representation. It’s about embedding diversity into the DNA of governance.”

As Nigeria prepares for deeper integration with global capital markets, the role of women in governance, audit, and sustainability will become even more visible. Many, like Sotola, are advocating for mentorship and capacity-building initiatives to expand the pipeline of female professionals entering finance and audit.

“Mentorship is key,” she said. “When young women see people like them leading in international firms or driving policy at national levels, it changes their sense of what’s possible. The next generation must know that integrity and leadership are not mutually exclusive, they are inseparable.”

Industry observers say the contributions of professionals like Sotola are already influencing institutional behavior. Companies are rethinking their internal governance codes, adopting international ESG standards, and prioritizing transparency as a competitive advantage.

“The global conversation on governance is moving fast,” Sotola concluded. “If Africa wants to attract sustainable investment and build resilient institutions, we must lead with ethics, inclusion, and transparency. Women are not just part of that story, we are shaping it.”