Access Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Ifeyinwa Osime as its new Chairman of the Board, confirming a key leadership transition at one of Nigeria’s most influential financial institutions.
The appointment follows the retirement of Paul Usoro, SAN, who stepped down after completing his regulatory tenure, in line with corporate governance requirements. The development was disclosed by Access Holdings Plc in a formal filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited.
According to the disclosure, Osime’s appointment forms part of Access Bank’s broader succession and governance strategy, aimed at ensuring continuity at board level while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Group Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described the transition as timely, noting that Osime’s experience and familiarity with the institution would support the bank’s long-term strategic objectives.
Her emergence as Board Chair comes at a period when Nigerian banks are navigating tightening regulations, evolving capital requirements, and increased scrutiny around governance and sustainability.
Ifeyinwa Osime is a seasoned legal practitioner with extensive experience in corporate governance and board oversight. She joined the Access Bank board in November 2019 as an Independent Non-Executive Director, giving her over six years of direct involvement in the bank’s governance structure.
During her time on the board, she chaired several critical committees, including the Board Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Board Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee; roles that placed her at the centre of leadership development, board evaluation, and succession planning within the institution.
Her committee work is widely viewed as a key factor in her elevation to the board’s highest leadership position.
Ifeyinwa Osime’s appointment signals Access Bank’s continued emphasis on institutional stability and governance continuity, rather than abrupt leadership shifts. As Chairman, she will oversee board strategy, risk oversight, and executive accountability at a time of growing competition within Nigeria’s banking sector and increased regional expansion by the Access brand.
Industry watchers note that her legal and governance background could strengthen board-level decision-making, particularly around compliance, sustainability frameworks, and long-term shareholder value.
With Ifeyinwa Osime now at the helm of the board, Access Bank enters its next phase of leadership with a chairman who combines institutional memory with governance expertise.