Access Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Ifeyinwa Osime as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, following the retirement of Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, on January 29, 2026, upon the completion of his regulatory tenure limit.
The appointment was formally disclosed to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Monday in a corporate filing signed by the Company Secretary, Mr. Sunday Ekwochi.
Osime, a seasoned legal practitioner and corporate governance expert, has served as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the bank’s board since November 2019. During her tenure, she chaired the Board’s Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee, playing a pivotal role in shaping the bank’s leadership development and sustainability frameworks.
Her extensive boardroom experience includes previous and current directorships at Coronation Insurance Plc, Coronation Life Insurance Company Ltd, and the former 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 specializes in corporate and commercial law.
In a statement, Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, expressed confidence in the new appointment. “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,” he said.
The outgoing Chairman, Paul Usoro, was commended for his “exemplary leadership and contributions” during his tenure. The bank noted that he would remain a valued member of the Access family.
Osime holds an LL.B from the University of Benin and an LL.M in Commercial and Corporate Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She has further honed her expertise through executive education programmes at leading global institutions, including INSEAD, IMD, Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.
The leadership transition underscores Access Bank’s commitment to robust governance and strategic continuity as it continues to execute its expansion and sustainability agenda.
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