Access Bank appoints Ifeyinwa Osime as new board chair

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as Chairman of its Board, following the retirement of Paul Usoro on January 29, 2026, upon the completion of his regulatory tenure.

The appointment was disclosed to the Nigerian Exchange Limited in a notice on Monday by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi.

“Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors (the Board’) of Access Bank Plc (‘the Bank’), its flagship subsidiary, has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as Chairman of the Board, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, 2026, upon the completion of his regulatory tenure limit,” the statement read.

Osime, a legal practitioner and corporate governance expert, has been an Independent Non-Executive Director on the bank’s board since November 2019. She previously chaired the Board’s Human Resources and Sustainability Committee, as well as the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee, contributing significantly to leadership development and sustainability initiatives.

Her experience includes board positions at Coronation Insurance Plc, Coronation Life Insurance Company Ltd, and Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank Limited). She also serves as a Director at Ebudo Trust Limited and a Partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, advising on corporate and commercial legal matters.

Speaking on the appointment, Group Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said, “Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the bank’s strategy and values. Under her leadership, the bank will continue to deliver sustainable value to shareholders and stakeholders.”

Usoro was commended for his exemplary leadership and contributions during his tenure and will remain a valued member of the Access family.

Osime holds a law degree from the University of Benin and a Master of Laws in Commercial and Corporate Law from the London School of Economics. She has also attended executive education programmes at INSEAD, IMD, Harvard, MIT, and Stanford, reflecting her commitment to global best practices.