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 1 September, Legal 500 unveiled the third edition of the GC Powerlist: East Africa, in partnership with leading African law firm ENS. Hosted at the Sankara Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, the event brought together many of the region’s most accomplished in-house lawyers to celebrate a distinguished community of legal leaders shaping the future of business across East Africa.
The evening opened with welcoming remarks from Giulio Tomassi Galanti, Business Development Manager at Legal 500, who highlighted the importance of recognising the dynamic growth and increasing sophistication of the East African legal market. He also reflected on the rigorous research and selection process behind the GC Powerlist series, congratulating this year’s honourees for their exceptional contributions to both the legal profession and the organisations they serve.
Following this introduction, Mahesh Acharya, Managing Partner of ENS Kenya, addressed the audience to commend the individuals recognised in the 2026 edition.
The launch of the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 proved a fitting celebration of the region’s leading in-house legal talent. The evening showcased the depth of expertise, influence, and innovation within East Africa’s corporate counsel community, while reaffirming Legal 500’s commitment to recognising and championing its achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this year’s research process and to ENS for once again partnering with Legal 500 to provide a platform that honours these outstanding legal professionals.
On Thursday, 3 September, Legal 500 will host the second launch event celebrating the GC Powerlist: East Africa 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. Building on the success of the Nairobi launch, the event will bring together many of region’s most accomplished in-house counsel and senior legal leaders to recognise their achievements and celebrate the continued growth and influence of the region’s corporate legal community.
