She mapped the route four years ago when she became the first woman ever elected to the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers' principal officer ranks. Now, Fiona Ahimie has completed the journey, arriving at the very top.
Fiona Ahimie has been elected the 14th President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), making her the first woman to occupy the role in the Institute's more than three-decade history, a development widely lauded across the financial market as a glass-ceiling breakthrough.
Ahimie succeeds the 13th President, Oluropo Dada, whose tenure recorded several notable achievements. She is scheduled to be formally inaugurated on June 25. In line with the Institute's succession framework, Ahimie previously served as 2nd Vice President and later as 1st Vice President. Following her elevation, former 2nd Vice President Dr. Akeem Oyewale has now assumed the role of 1st Vice President, while a new 2nd Vice President will be announced in due course.
The new president brings formidable credentials to the office. An accomplished investment expert with over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, Ahimie currently serves as Managing Director of First Securities Brokers Limited, a subsidiary of First HoldCo Plc. Her career spans roles at Lead Capital, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, FBNQuest Capital, and African Alliance Securities Nigeria, where she held senior leadership positions across trading, client development, and market strategy.
She holds an MBA from Lagos Business School and a Diploma from IESE Business School, Spain. Ahimie is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and a member of several professional and corporate boards.
The path to the presidency was methodically walked. When Ahimie first won election as 2nd Vice President in 2022, the Institute's statement at the time noted the position had placed her on the succession lane to becoming the first female president, a trajectory she has now completed precisely on schedule.
Outgoing President Dada offered an unambiguous endorsement of his successor: "Fiona Ahimie brings proven expertise, strong leadership, and a clear vision for the Institute's future. I am confident she will build on the progress made and further strengthen the Institute's role in the financial services sector."
Dada's administration focused on branding and funding, with notable landmarks including the implementation of the Corporate Strategic Plan 2024–2030, upgrading the CIS Diploma to Certified Securities and Investment Support Specialist, increasing media presence, restructuring of the Secretariat, and a successful 2025 National Workshop at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
For Nigeria's capital market, still navigating the challenges of broadening retail participation and deepening institutional investor engagement, Ahimie's historic election sends a signal that the industry is serious about the full breadth of talent available to it.
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