ACCESS Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Ifeyinwa Osime as its new chairman of the Board of Access Bank Plc, marking a major leadership transition at Nigeria’s largest banking group by assets.
Her appointment follows the retirement of Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), who stepped down on January 29, 2026, after completing the maximum regulatory tenure.
In a statement released by the Group, Access Holdings said Ms Osime’s appointment took immediate effect and reflected the company’s commitment to strong corporate governance, leadership continuity, and sustainable growth across its operations in Africa and global markets.
A seasoned corporate leader
Ms Osime is a legal practitioner and boardroom strategist with decades of experience in corporate governance, financial services, and institutional leadership. She joined the Board of Access Bank in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director, where she has played a key role in shaping the bank’s governance and sustainability agenda.
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Before her elevation to chairman, Osime had served as chairman of the Board Human Resources and Sustainability Committee, as well as chairman of the Board Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee. In these roles, she was instrumental in driving leadership development, board effectiveness, succession planning, diversity initiatives, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies across the bank’s operations.
She has also served on several other board committees, contributing to risk oversight, compliance, performance management, and strategic planning within the Access Bank Group.
Extensive board and legal experience
Beyond Access Bank, Ms Osime is a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises leading corporate clients on commercial law, regulatory compliance, and governance structures. She is also a director at Ebudo Trust Limited, further strengthening her reputation as a trusted legal and governance expert.
Her previous board roles include serving as an independent non-executive director at Coronation Insurance Plc, board chairman of Coronation Life Insurance Company Limited, and non-executive Director at Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank Limited). These positions have given her deep insight into Nigeria’s financial services industry and regulatory environment, financial experts say.
Ms Osime began her professional career at the Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation before joining African Development Insurance Company Limited (ADIC), now NSIA Insurance, where she served as company secretary and assistant general manager, Administration and Legal.
Strong academic and professional credentials
Ms Osime is a graduate of the University of Benin, where she obtained her law degree, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Commercial and Corporate Law from the London School of Economics (LSE).
She has also completed executive education programmes at some of the world’s top institutions, including INSEAD, IMD, Harvard Business School, MIT, and Stanford University, reflecting her commitment to continuous professional development and global best practices.
She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Women Corporate Directors (Nigeria Chapter), and the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.
Commitment to social impact
Beyond the boardroom, Ms sime is passionate about mentoring young professionals and supporting inclusive development. She is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, advocating for better awareness and support for children and families living with special needs.
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Access Holdings speaks
Commenting on her appointment, Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described Ms Osime as a ‘principled and experienced leader’ with a deep understanding of the group’s strategy and values.
He said her leadership would strengthen Access Bank’s mission of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and stakeholders, as the group pursued its vision of becoming ‘the World’s Most Respected African Bank.’
Mr Aig-Imoukhuede also praised outgoing chairman, Mr Usoro, for his dedication and outstanding contributions, wishing him success in his future endeavours while noting that he remained a valued member of the Access family.
