Dangote Cement, Zenith Bank, Access Holdings, Seplat Energy, AIICO Insurance, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) emerged as high-performing companies in the performance analysis and ranking of publicly-held companies in Nigeria by NextMoney Magazine, a publication Centre for Financial Journalism. Other companies that came out on top in the analysis and ranking based on the 2024 audited financial reports of the companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) are First HoldCo, NEM Insurance and Axa Mansard Insurance.

The high-performing companies were specially recognized and given awards at the maiden edition of NextMoney Top 100 Companies Awards held last Friday, October 3, 2025, at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The awards whose theme is Nigeria’s Top 100 Companies: Yesterday, Today and the Future was chaired by Dr. Ije Jidenma, Chairman of Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Chief Executive of Leading Edge Consulting, and keynoted by Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, mni, Chairman of Proshare Nigeria.

On the global award category, Access Holdings clinched two awards: The Largest Company in Nigeria (for posting the largest total assets) and The Largest Company in Nigeria by Revenue. Dangote Cement also won two awards: The Most Valuable Company in Nigeria (for recording the highest market capitalization in the 2024 accounting year) and The Largest Company in Nigeria by Number of Employees. Zenith Bank won The Most Profitable Company in Nigeria award, while Seplat Energy bagged The Highest Tax Paying Company in Nigeria award.

In the banking sectoral category, Access Holdings won The Largest Bank in Nigeria (for reporting the largest total assets) and The Largest Bank in Nigeria by Revenue awards. Zenith Bank bagged The Most Profitable Bank in Nigeria and The Highest Tax Paying Bank in Nigeria awards. Guaranty Trust Holdings Company (GTCO) won The Most Valuable Bank in Nigeria award (for recording the highest market capitalization), while First HoldCo won The Largest Bank in Nigeria by Number of Employees award.

In the insurance sectoral category, AIICO Insurance won three awards: The Largest Insurance Company in Nigeria (for posting the largest total assets), The Largest Insurance Company in Nigeria by Revenue and The Largest Insurance Company in Nigeria by Number of Employees. Axa Mansard Insurance won The Most Valuable Insurance Company in Nigeria and The Highest Tax Paying Insurance Company in Nigeria awards, while NEM Insurance clinched The Most Profitable Insurance Company in Nigeria award.

Dangote Cement clinched all the awards in the manufacturing sectoral category: The Largest Manufacturing Company in Nigeria (for reporting the largest total assets), The Most Profitable Manufacturing Company in Nigeria, The Most Valuable Manufacturing Company in Nigeria, The Largest Manufacturing Company in Nigeria by Revenue and The Highest Tax Paying Manufacturing Company in Nigeria.

In his welcome address at the event, Chairman of Centre for Financial Journalism, Mr. Ernest Ebi, MFR said NextMoney Top 100 Companies Awards is unique because it is rooted in objectivity, not perception or popularity. Ebi who was represented by Professor Akpan Ekpo, a member of the board of trustees of Centre for Financial Journalism pointed out that the awards is based solely on the audited financial statements of the awardee companies - the most transparent and verifiable measure of corporate performance. Continuing, he said: “This is not an award you can lobby for, embellish, or influence. It is earned. It is deserved”.

He further remarked that: “In a time when trust in institutions is paramount, we believe that celebrating companies that uphold financial discipline, good governance, and shareholder value is not just necessary - it is urgent. These companies are not only profitable; they are principled. They are not only growing; they are guiding. They are not only surviving; they are shaping the future of Nigeria’s economy.

“To the awardees: you are the standard-bearers of corporate Nigeria. Your performance has spoken louder than any campaign could. You have shown that excellence is not an aspiration - it is a habit. We salute your leadership, your teams, and your unwavering commitment to transparency and growth”.

In his keynote presentation, Mr. Awoyemi said that while corporates and governments exist today, they must prepare for tomorrow as they internalise the lessons of yesterday. “Indeed, corporate success is not about the certainty of today but the effort to meet the needs of tomorrow”, he said. He therefore advised the companies that received awards to submit the crystals to the heads of their strategic planning units, along with a request to develop a plan outlining the trends they need to manage to remain relevant in the next decade or more at the minimum.

• PHOTO, L-R: Michael Ani, Manager, Investor Relations, Dangote Cement; Oluseyi Ogunbiyi of Branding & Sponsorship; Ayotunde Adeniyi, Head, Branding & Sponsorship, both of Zenith Bank; Ije Jidenma, Chairman, Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce/Chairman of occasion; Ray Echebiri, Editor-in-Chief, NextMoney; Cornelius Onuoha; Kemi Ogunmolu, Head of Management Reporting, Dangote Cement, and Segun Olalandu, Head, Digital Marketing & Communications, AIICO Insurance Plc, during the NextMoney top 100 Companies Awards held at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.