AISHAH AHMAD, CFA

Aishah N. Ahmad is a global finance and policy expert with over 28 years of experience spanning public policy, private markets, and governance.
A trailblazer in finance, she made history as the first female Deputy Governor for Financial System Stability at the Central Bank of Nigeria (2018–2023), following a distinguished career in private wealth management and banking. With a proven track record of transformative leadership, Aishah has been instrumental in driving financial performance, fostering innovation, and leading collaborative efforts to build resilient and inclusive financial ecosystems.
At the CBN, she played a pivotal role in shaping financial policy, preserving stability—particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic—and driving financial innovation in Africa’s largest economy. Under her regulatory stewardship, Nigeria strengthened its position as a leading financial hub through groundbreaking reforms, including the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA 2020), Africa’s first domestic card scheme (Afrigo), the introduction of telco-led Payment Service Banks, adoption of Open Banking, among others.
Aishah pioneered Nigeria’s first International Financial Inclusion Conference while mobilizing national stakeholders to drive financial inclusion, achieving a record 11% increase to 74%. These initiatives strengthened the financial system—spurring record growth in real-sector credit, significantly expanding electronic transactions, and advancing digital financial services.
A sought-after speaker, she has addressed global forums, including the World Bank/IMF, Harvard Kennedy School, and Saïd Business School, Oxford University. Widely recognized for her contributions to global finance and gender advocacy, Aishah was honored with the national award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2023 for her impact on Nigeria’s financial sector.
A seasoned board director, Aishah serves on the global boards of the Financial Alliance for Women and SOS Children’s Villages International and is a trustee of Women in Management, Business & Public Service (WIMBIZ). She has previously chaired strategic public, private and non profit institutions, including Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), the country’s primary payments market infrastructure.
Beyond finance, Aishah is a passionate advocate for gender equity. At the CBN, she institutionalized female leadership and empowerment as a strategic priority, mentoring thousands of female policymakers through her 100 Women Breakfast
Aishah 2 Ndanusa Ahmad, CFA
initiative and helping increase female CEO representation in Nigeria’s banking sector to an all-time high of 25%. As Executive Chairperson at WIMBIZ, Africa’s largest female-focused NGO, she launched the Big Sister Programme, impacting over 8,000 teenage girls in public secondary schools across Nigeria.
Aishah holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), and INSEAD’s International Director’s Programme (IDP-C) designations (amongst other leadership and economic policy credentials) reflecting her deep expertise in financial markets and board governance.
An alumna of Cranfield School of Management, UK, and the University of Lagos, she earned a Master’s in Finance & Management and an MBA in Finance, respectively. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree (2:1) in Accounting from the University of Abuja.
Aishah Ahmad remains committed to championing financial stability, inclusive growth, and the next generation of leaders.