Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Mrs. Ifeyinwa Osime as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc, effective immediately upon the retirement of Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN) on January 29, 2026, at the end of his regulatory tenure limit.
Mrs. Osime, an accomplished legal practitioner and seasoned corporate governance expert, brings extensive boardroom experience and strategic leadership to the role. She joined Access Bank’s Board in November 2019 as an Independent Non-Executive Director and has since played a pivotal role in shaping the institution’s governance framework.
Before her elevation, she chaired the Board Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Board Governance Nomination and Remuneration Committee, where she made significant contributions to leadership development, sustainability initiatives, and governance best practices. She has also served on multiple other board committees, strengthening the Bank’s strategic direction and stakeholder alignment.
A Partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, Mrs. Osime advises on corporate and commercial law matters and contributes to the firm’s leadership and strategic growth. She is currently a director at Ebudo Trust Limited. Her previous board roles include serving as Independent Non-Executive Director of Coronation Insurance Plc, Chairman of Coronation Life Insurance Company Ltd, and Non-Executive Director at Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank Limited).
Mrs. Osime began her career at Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation. She later served as Company Secretary and Assistant General Manager, Administration & Legal at African Development Insurance Company Limited (now NSIA Insurance). She holds a law degree from the University of Benin and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Commercial and Corporate Law from the London School of Economics and has completed executive education programmes at leading global institutions including INSEAD, IMD, Harvard Business School, MIT, and Stanford.
She is an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group. Outside her professional commitments, Mrs. Osime is deeply involved in mentoring young professionals and supports the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her commitment to inclusion and social impact.
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Commenting on the appointment, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, expressed strong confidence in the new Chairman:
“Mrs. Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values. She has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the Bank’s vision and mission. I am confident that under her leadership, Access Bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives and deliver sustainable value to shareholders and all stakeholders as we pursue our vision to become the World’s Most Respected African Bank.”
The Group Chairman also paid tribute to the outgoing Chairman, Mr. Paul Usoro, acknowledging his exemplary leadership, dedication, and immense contributions to the Group during his tenure.
“On behalf of the Board and the entire Access family, I congratulate Mr. Usoro on the successful completion of his tenure. His service has been outstanding, and he will remain a valued member of the Access family. We wish him continued success in all his future endeavours,” Aig-Imoukhuede added
