Access Bank Plc has appointed legal practitioner and corporate governance expert, Ifeyinwa Osime, as Chairman of its Board, following the retirement of Paul Usoro on January 29, 2026, after completing his regulatory tenure.
The appointment was disclosed to the Nigerian Exchange Limited in a notice signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi.
According to the statement, “Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors 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.”
Osime has served as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the bank’s board since November 2019. During this period, she chaired the Board’s Human Resources and Sustainability Committee as well as the Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee, where she played key roles in leadership development and sustainability initiatives.
Her boardroom experience spans several institutions, including 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 is a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial legal matters.
Speaking on the appointment, Group Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described Osime as “a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the bank’s strategy and values,” expressing confidence that under her leadership, the bank would continue to deliver sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders.
Usoro was commended for his leadership and contributions during his tenure and is expected to remain connected to the Access Bank 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, underscoring her commitment to global best practices in corporate governance.