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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Mrs. Ifeyinwa Osime as the new Chairman of the Board of Access Bank Plc, its flagship subsidiary, following the retirement of Mr. Paul Usoro.
Mr. Usoro retired on January 29, 2026, upon completion of his regulatory tenure limit, in line with corporate governance requirements.
Mrs. Osime, an accomplished legal practitioner with extensive experience in corporate governance and strategic leadership, was first appointed to the Board of Access Bank in November 2019 as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
Prior to her elevation, she served as Chairman of the Board Human Resources and Sustainability Committee as well as the Board Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee. She is credited with making significant contributions to governance processes, leadership development and sustainability initiatives within the bank. She also served on several other board committees.
In addition to her role at Access Bank, Mrs. Osime is a Director at Ebudo Trust Limited and a Partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she provides advisory services on corporate and commercial legal matters while contributing to the firm’s leadership and strategic direction.
Her wealth of boardroom experience spans several institutions. She previously served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Coronation Insurance Plc, Board Chairman of Coronation Life Insurance Company Ltd, and Non-Executive Director of the defunct Bank PHB, now Keystone Bank Limited.
Mrs. Osime began her professional career at the Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation before moving to African Development Insurance Company Limited (ADIC), now NSIA Insurance, where she served as Company Secretary and Assistant General Manager, Administration and Legal.
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A law graduate of the University of Benin, she was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She holds a Master of Laws degree in Commercial and Corporate Law from the London School of Economics and has participated in executive education programmes at globally renowned institutions including INSEAD, IMD, Harvard Business School, MIT and Stanford University.
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.
Beyond her professional engagements, Mrs. Osime is actively involved in mentoring young people and contributes to the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her strong commitment to social inclusion and impact.
Commenting on the appointment, the Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, expressed confidence in her leadership abilities.
“Mrs. Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values. 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 the pursuit of its vision to become the World’s Most Respected African Bank,” he said.
The Group Chairman also congratulated Mr. Usoro on the successful completion of his tenure, commending his exemplary leadership and dedication to the growth of the institution.
He wished the outgoing chairman well in his future endeavours and noted that he would remain a valued member of the Access family.
