Leadership Transition: Access Bank Appoints Ifeyinwa Osime as New Board Chairman
Lagos, Nigeria – In a move to strengthen its corporate governance and sustain its aggressive growth strategy, Access Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Mrs. Ifeyinwa Osime as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors.
Mrs. Osime is an accomplished legal practitioner and corporate governance expert with over 30 years of experience across the public and private sectors. She has been a member of the Access Bank Board since November 2019, serving as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
Before her elevation to Chairman, she held several key leadership roles within the bank, including: Chairperson Board Human Resources and Sustainability Committee andChairperson Board Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee.
Her professional background includes high-level roles at Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation and African Development Insurance Company (now NSIA Insurance). She is also a Partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners and serves on the boards of several other notable institutions.
The Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, expressed full confidence in Osime’s ability to lead the bank into its next phase of transformation.
“Mrs. Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values. I am confident that under her leadership, the Bank will continue to deliver sustainable value to shareholders as we pursue our vision to become the World’s Most Respected African Bank.”
The Board also extended its profound gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Paul Usoro, SAN, for his “exemplary leadership and dedication.” During his tenure, Access Bank successfully navigated complex regulatory environments and solidified its position as a leading financial powerhouse in Africa.
This leadership change comes at a time of broader transition within Access Holdings, following the official appointment of Innocent Ike as Group Managing Director/CEO in late 2025, signaling a renewed governance architecture designed to drive global expansion.
