Job Overview

Ayoola Foods Limited is hiring a Company Secretary in Ipaja, Lagos. Apply by 19 August 2026 with 8–10 years of post-qualification legal experience.

Company Secretary at Ayoola Foods Limited

Location: Ipaja, Lagos, Nigeria
Employment Type: Full-time
Application Deadline: 19 August 2026

Ayoola Foods Limited is seeking an experienced Company Secretary to support its corporate governance, legal compliance, statutory obligations, and wider business administration in Ipaja, Lagos.

The position is suited to a qualified Nigerian lawyer with substantial post-qualification experience who can work confidently with Executive Management on governance and legal matters. Beyond maintaining corporate records and statutory filings, the successful candidate will review commercial agreements, monitor regulatory obligations, help identify legal risks, and support the company as it continues to develop its governance framework.

The role will require someone who can combine legal knowledge with practical commercial judgement. You will be expected to understand the legal implications of business decisions while providing advice that is clear, useful, and aligned with the company’s operational needs.

About this vacancy

This is a full-time Company Secretary position based in Ipaja, Lagos, Nigeria, with responsibilities covering corporate governance, statutory compliance, commercial contracts, legal risk management, and support for Executive Management.

The position may be particularly relevant to experienced Nigerian lawyers who have worked in corporate legal, company secretarial, governance, or compliance roles and are comfortable operating in a business environment. Candidates who are exploring other professional opportunities can also browse our latest jobs in Nigeria to discover additional vacancies across different sectors and experience levels.

Candidates should verify the application details and closing date before submitting their application, as recruitment information may change.

What you will be responsible for

Corporate governance and statutory records

A major part of the role will be ensuring that the company maintains appropriate corporate governance practices and meets its legal obligations. Professionals interested in developing their careers in different business and professional fields can also find useful career resources in our Career Hub, including practical job search and career guidance.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring compliance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and other applicable legislation.
• Maintaining statutory registers, corporate records, and company filings.
• Coordinating Board and Executive meetings, including agendas, Board papers, and minutes.
• Recording, monitoring, and following up on the implementation of Board resolutions.
• Advising Executive Management on practical corporate governance matters and good governance practices.

Legal and regulatory compliance

The Company Secretary will also help the organisation stay informed about regulatory requirements that affect its operations. This includes:

• Monitoring legal and regulatory developments relevant to the business.
• Ensuring statutory returns and regulatory documentation are submitted within required timelines.
• Coordinating engagements with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and other relevant regulatory bodies.
• Developing and maintaining compliance policies and procedures where required.
• Helping management understand and respond to changes in applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

Commercial contracts and legal documents

The successful candidate will provide support across a range of commercial and operational agreements. Key responsibilities include:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Ensuring agreements appropriately protect the company’s legal and commercial interests.
• Reviewing distributor agreements, supplier contracts, employment agreements, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and other legal documents.
• Identifying potential legal and commercial risks in contracts and recommending suitable amendments.
• Maintaining a central and organised repository of company contracts.

Managing legal and governance risks

The role will involve helping management identify potential legal and corporate governance risks before they become larger problems. The successful candidate will:

• Identify and assess legal and corporate governance risks affecting the business.
• Advise Executive Management on the potential legal implications of business decisions.
• Coordinate with external solicitors on litigation and specialist legal matters when necessary.
• Support internal investigations where legal input or guidance is required.

Corporate administration and record management

Strong organisation and documentation will be important in this position. Responsibilities will include:

• Managing corporate documentation and legal correspondence.
• Maintaining company licences, permits, statutory records, and corporate registers.
• Coordinating the proper execution of legal and corporate documents.
• Ensuring appropriate document retention and record management practices.

Supporting Executive Management

The Company Secretary will serve as a practical source of legal and governance advice to senior leadership. The role includes:

• Providing clear and practical legal guidance to Executive Management.
• Supporting major business initiatives from a legal, regulatory, and governance perspective.
• Assisting with corporate restructuring, investments, and strategic projects when required.
• Promoting a culture of legal and regulatory compliance throughout the organisation.

How success will be measured

Performance in this role is expected to be assessed through several areas, including:

• Timely and accurate statutory filings.
• Compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• The quality and turnaround time of contract reviews.
• Effective Board meetings and accurate governance documentation.
• Identification and mitigation of legal risks.
• Outcomes of compliance audits.
• Timely renewal of licences, permits, and statutory registrations.
• The quality and practical value of governance advice provided to Executive Management.

What will make someone successful in this position?

The role requires more than technical legal knowledge. The successful candidate should be able to understand the company’s commercial priorities while ensuring that legal and governance standards are maintained.

A strong candidate will be comfortable advising senior leaders, handling sensitive information, reviewing complex documents, and explaining legal issues in straightforward language. They should also be highly organised and able to manage several deadlines without losing attention to important details.

The ability to build trust across departments will be valuable, particularly when working with colleagues who may not have a legal background. A practical, solutions-focused approach will also help the successful candidate provide advice that supports the business while managing potential risks.

Qualifications and professional requirements

Essential qualifications

Applicants should have:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B.).
• A Barrister-at-Law (B.L.) qualification and admission to the Nigerian Bar.
• A valid licence to practise law in Nigeria.

Preferred professional qualifications

The following would be an advantage:

• Membership of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN/CGI Nigeria).
• Additional certification in Corporate Governance or Compliance.

Experience and technical background

Essential experience

Candidates should have:

• Between 8 and 10 years of post-qualification legal experience.
• At least 5 years of experience working as a Company Secretary or in a corporate governance position.
• Practical experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Strong knowledge of CAMA and Nigerian corporate governance requirements.
• Experience providing legal and governance advice to senior management.

Additional experience that would be useful

Preference may be given to candidates with experience in:

• Supporting Executive Management and Board meetings.
• Working as a Company Secretary within a manufacturing or FMCG organisation.
• Dealing with regulatory bodies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), NAFDAC, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

Personal qualities and working style

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• A high level of integrity and discretion.
• Strong commercial judgement and practical decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing abilities.
• Excellent organisational and documentation skills.
• The ability to explain complex legal matters clearly to non-legal colleagues.
• A proactive and solutions-oriented approach to work.
• The ability to build professional and trusted relationships at different levels of the organisation.

Application deadline

The application deadline is 19 August 2026.

Before applying, candidates should carefully review the qualification and experience requirements, particularly the requirement for Nigerian Bar admission and substantial post-qualification legal experience.

How to apply

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to:

Email: careers@ayoolafoodsng.com

Use “COMPANY SECRETARY” as the subject of the email.

Applicants should ensure that their CV clearly reflects their legal qualifications, Nigerian Bar admission, post-qualification experience, company secretarial or corporate governance background, and relevant experience with commercial contracts and regulatory compliance.

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