Toyin Olakunri became Africa’s first female chartered accountant in 1963, establishing herself in a male-dominated profession. A founding member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), she later served as its president from 1994 to 1995, helping to shape national accounting standards.

Committed to increasing female representation in finance, she co-founded the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) in 1978 and played a key role in launching the World Body for Women Accountants in 1997. She was also the first female board member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), an executive director at ICON Stockbrokers, and managing director of CTB Stockbrokers.

Her influence extended to education and governance. As chairman of the Education Trust Fund (ETF), she helped shape funding policies, while her role in the 1977 Constituent Assembly contributed to the development of Nigeria’s 1979 Constitution.