The Nigerian Exchange hosts roughly 150 listed companies and ranks among Africa's most significant stock exchanges. A small number of these firms, however, stand apart for their extraordinary longevity, having operated since before Nigeria's independence and survived the Civil War and decades of upheaval since.
These trailblazing organisations have endured steep economic challenges, currency crashes, and the cyclical swings of oil markets, yet remain listed and, in many instances, profitable. They range from construction firms that erected Nigeria's earliest structures to traders and manufacturers that built the nation's industrial backbone.
Royal Exchange plc traces its origins to 1918, when the British insurer Royal Exchange Assurance opened a Nigerian branch. The firm was formally registered locally on February 28, 1921, establishing itself as one of the country's earliest financial operators.
For more than 20 years, it held a monopoly as Nigeria's sole insurance provider, essentially creating the foundations for the sector that followed. The business was re-registered as Royal Exchange Assurance Limited in 1969, then went public on December 3, 1990.
It rebranded to Royal Exchange Plc in July 2008 to reflect its wider financial services role.
In the first quarter of 2026, the firm generated revenue of N96.7 million but posted an after-tax loss of N33.4 million, according to unaudited results. The company trades at N1.38 per share and carries a market value of N11.4 billion.
Idu Okeahialam serves as managing director and chief executive.
Unilever Nigeria Plc launched in 1923 as a soap maker called Lever Brothers West Africa, claiming the title of Nigeria's longest-operating manufacturer. The business broadened into detergents and food products, launching the famous Omo brand in 1960.
It joined the Nigerian Stock Exchange on April 1, 1973, and took its current name in 2001. The milestone year of 2023 saw the company celebrate a full century of operations.
The group now runs three divisions: Foods, Beauty & Wellbeing, and Personal Care, selling familiar products including Knorr, Close-Up, and Rexona. In the 2026 half-year results, Unilever Nigeria reported after-tax profit of N8.5 billion on sales of N60.5 billion.
Shares trade at N137.50, and the company commands a market capitalisation of N789.94 billion. Tobi Adeniyi, the managing director, heads the organisation.
UACN Plc boasts roots stretching back to 1879, when it was born from the combination of four trading houses operating on the River Niger. The company was first registered in Nigeria as Nigerian Motors Ltd on April 22, 1931, initially as a branch of United Africa Company Ltd.
