Meet the Appointee: Ifeyinwa Osime Named Chairman of Access Bank Board

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime, a seasoned legal practitioner and corporate governance expert, as Chairman of its Board, following the retirement of Paul Usoro after the completion of his regulatory tenure on January 29, 2026.

The appointment was disclosed to the Nigerian Exchange Limited in a regulatory filing signed by the bank’s Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, confirming a key leadership transition at the financial institution.

Osime brings extensive boardroom, legal, and governance experience to the role. She has served as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the board of Access Bank since November 2019, during which she played a central role in shaping the bank’s governance architecture, leadership development processes, and sustainability agenda.

Prior to her elevation as board chair, she chaired some of the bank’s most critical committees, including the Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee. In these roles, she provided oversight on executive succession planning, board effectiveness, talent development, remuneration policy, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.

Beyond Access Bank, Osime has built a distinguished career across Nigeria’s financial services and corporate sectors. She has served on the boards of Coronation Insurance Plc, Coronation Life Insurance Company Limited, and Bank PHB, now known as Keystone Bank Limited, where she contributed to governance reform and strategic oversight.

She currently serves as a Director at Ebudo Trust Limited and is a Partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, a law firm where she advises corporate clients on commercial transactions, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and business structuring.

Commenting on her appointment, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, described Osime as a principled and accomplished leader with a deep understanding of the bank’s strategy and values.

“Her integrity, experience, and institutional knowledge position her well to guide the board as Access Bank continues to deliver sustainable value to shareholders and stakeholders,” he said.

The bank also commended Paul Usoro for his leadership and contributions during his tenure as chairman, noting that he remains a respected member of the Access Bank family.

Osime holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Benin and a Master of Laws in Commercial and Corporate Law from the London School of Economics. She has further strengthened her leadership and governance expertise through executive education programmes at some of the world’s leading institutions, including INSEAD, IMD, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Stanford University.

Her appointment underscores Access Bank’s focus on strong corporate governance, continuity, and experienced leadership as the institution navigates growth across Africa and other international markets.