Access Bank appoints Ifeyinwa Osime as Board Chairman
Access Bank Plc has appointed Mrs. Ifeyinwa Osime as Chairman of its Board of Directors, following the retirement of Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, who stepped down on January 29, 2026, after completing his regulatory tenure. The appointment was disclosed in a corporate filing by Access Holdings Plc dated February 2, 2026. Access Bank, a flagship […]
Access Bank Plc has appointed Mrs. Ifeyinwa Osime as Chairman of its Board of Directors, following the retirement of Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, who stepped down on January 29, 2026, after completing his regulatory tenure.
The appointment was disclosed in a corporate filing by Access Holdings Plc dated February 2, 2026.
Access Bank, a flagship subsidiary of Access Holdings, said the leadership transition is part of its ongoing governance restructuring in line with regulatory requirements and long-term strategic priorities.
Reacting to the appointment, the Group Chairman of Access Holdings, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, described Mrs. Osime as a seasoned professional with strong ethical standards and a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy.
“Mrs. Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values,” Aig-Imoukhuede said. “She has demonstrated strong commitment to the Bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that under her leadership, the Bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders, in pursuit of becoming the world’s most respected African bank.”
He also commended the outgoing chairman, Mr. Usoro, for his “exemplary leadership, dedication and significant contribution” to the Group, noting that he would “remain a valued member of the Access family.”
Mrs. Osime’s appointment marks another milestone in Access Bank’s leadership succession planning, as Access Holdings continues to reshape its governance framework across its subsidiaries.
The Group has experienced a series of leadership changes in recent years. In August 2025, Mr. Innocent Ike assumed office as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings following regulatory approval, succeeding Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, who exited the board in compliance with revised corporate governance rules. Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede had earlier returned as Group Chairman in 2024 after the death of former Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe.
Mrs. Osime brings decades of experience in law, corporate governance and board leadership to her new role.
She joined the Board of Access Bank in November 2019 as an Independent Non-Executive Director and previously chaired the Board Human Resources and Sustainability Committee as well as the Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
Her boardroom experience includes prior service on the boards of Coronation Insurance Plc, Coronation Life Insurance Ltd and Bank PHB, now Keystone Bank.
She has also held senior roles across the legal and insurance sectors, including stints at McPherson Legal Practitioners, NSIA Insurance and the Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation.
Her elevation comes at a time when Access Bank is strengthening its governance structures while deepening its footprint across Africa and key global markets.