Nigeria 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Vice President, Legal & Compliance | ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment
General Counsel/Head, Compliance and Risk, Africa | Junior Achievement Africa
Company secretary, general counsel | Chemical and Allied Products
Aramide Nwokediuko is a seasoned legal professional with over two decades of experience in corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, and compliance and a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives...
Group company secretary, head of legal and chief compliance officer | CFAO Nigeria
General counsel and company secretary | Nigerian National Petroleum Company
Legal and compliance manager | International Breweries, a part of ABInBev
General counsel | FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company
Company Secretary/General Counsel/Chief     Compliance Officer | AIICO Insurance
Group Head Audit, Compliance and Risk | OmniRetail Technology
Company secretary, legal counsel | International Breweries
Dr. (Mrs.) Marian Reginald-Ukwuoma brings nearly two decades of experience in both government and corporate environments. She has a solid background in regulatory affairs, government and stakeholder engagement, corporate governance,...
Cluster head legal, Anglophone West Africa, East and Southern Africa | Novartis
Regional Compliance and Ethics Counsel, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) | Oracle
Company Secretary/Chief Legal Officer | BUA Group
Formerly legal counsel/ company secretary | Heirs Energies
Chief legal and regulatory affairs officer | Airtel Networks
Group head legal and regulatory management | Transnational Corporation
Partner and head of deal advisory, M&A, Tax | KPMG
Head of legal and group company secretary | Caverton Offshore Support Group
Managing Counsel, Global Litigation, Sub-Saharan Africa | The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria
Company secretary and group director, legal services | Flour Mills of Nigeria
Head of legal sub-saharan africa | Reckitt Benckiser
Madonna Okpaleke is a legal and compliance professional with over 20 years of experience advising multinational organizations across Africa and Europe. She currently serves as the Head of Legal for...
General counsel & Company Secretary | Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems
Head of legal Sub-Saharan Africa cluster and company secretary | FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria
Formerly Deputy Chief Legal Officer | Moove
Olutola Bella is a senior corporate counsel with significant experience in corporate finance, banking, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and corporate and commercial law. He was, until recently, Deputy Chief...
It is with great pleasure that usher in the second edition of the GC Powerlist Nigeria 2025, a celebration of the most influential and innovative in-house lawyers shaping the future of Nigeria’s legal and business landscape.
At The Legal 500, we continue to take immense pride in recognizing outstanding legal talent worldwide, and Nigeria’s legal market continues to impress with its sophistication, and resilience. This edition of the GC Powerlist: Nigeria is the result of months of extensive research, countless interviews, and careful analysis to identify the standout in-house counsel who are driving change, fostering innovation, and providing strategic leadership in their organizations.
We are especially thrilled to have partnered with TNP to bring this research to life. Their deep understanding of the Nigerian legal market has been invaluable in making this publication a reality. The GC Powerlist has become a global benchmark for excellence in in-house legal practice, and its continued success worldwide is a testament to the strength and impact of the legal professionals we celebrate today.
Congratulations to all those featured in this year’s GC Powerlist Nigeria. Your work not only advances your organizations but also elevates the broader legal community. We, at The Legal 500, look forward to witnessing your continued success and contributions to the legal profession.
On Thursday 9 October, Legal 500 hosted its first gala dinner in Athens to launch the GC Powerlist: Greece and Cyprus 2025, in partnership with Andersen Legal, IOANNIDES DEMETRIOU LLC and Nobel Trust.
The GC Powerlist celebrates the integral role of in-house counsel and acknowledges their achievements. Legal 500 was honoured, once again, to recognise an impressive group of leading General Counsel and senior in-house counsel from across the region.
Guests arrived at the idyllic National Garden in the heart of Athens for drinks in the courtyard of AIGLI ZAPPEIOU, before making their way inside for the perfectly crafted three-course dinner – accompanied by a gift from IOANNIDES DEMETRIOU LLC and Nobel Trust.
Isabel Caine, Event Content Editor at Legal 500, kicked off the evening with opening remarks. Theodore Pistiolis, Managing Partner at Andersen Legal, and Christina Ioannidou, Partner at IOANNIDES DEMETRIOU LLC, also took to the stage to welcome those in attendance and congratulate the honourees.
The keynote speech was delivered by Anastasia Petsinari, General Counsel and Head of Legal and Corporate Governance at Optima Banl. She spoke about the many facets of the in-house role and how General Counsel must lead with influence, judgement and trust. She highlighted that the success of in-house counsel is not only reflected in work completed, but also in the credibility and relationships built up within their organisation over time. And, of course, that behind every successful General Counsel is a great in-house team.
The dinner provided ample opportunity for networking and discussions. Across the ten tables, attendees were able to connect with colleagues, both former and current, peers and friends. Lively conversations carried on long into the evening, as guests moved to the foyer for espresso and post-dinner drinks.
Honourees then collected their certificates and gifts from Andersen Legal before having their photographs taken at the photowall to commemorate the occasion.
Legal 500 extends congratulations to each and every person who made it onto this year’s GC Powerlist: Greece and Cyprus and is honoured to celebrate such an impressive cohort of in-house counsel, along with Andersen Legal, IOANNIDES DEMETRIOU LLC and Nobel Trust.
