Dr. Israel Ovirih named among Nigeria’s Top 25 CEOs

Dr. Israel Ovirih, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Critical Minerals Financing Corporation (CMFC) Plc, has been named among Nigeria’s Top 25 CEOs for 2026. The recognition was presented at the BusinessDay Top 25 CEOs Awards, an event organized by BusinessDay in collaboration with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).

The selection process utilized scientific parameters and corporate performance data provided by the NGX to measure corporate governance excellence. Ovirih was recognized for his role in establishing CMFC as a specialized investment bank focused on Africa’s minerals and metals sector.

The award also highlights Ovirih’s previous leadership through Banklink Africa Private Equity, which acquired a majority stake in Deap Capital Management & Trust Plc and underwent a significant corporate restructuring involving recapitalization and repositioning.