Ifeyinwa Osime: 10 things to know about Access Bank Plc board chairman

Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Ifeyinwa Osime as the new Chairman of the Board of Access Bank Plc, marking a new phase in the leadership of the group’s flagship banking subsidiary.

The appointment takes effect following the retirement of Paul Usoro (SAN), who stepped down after reaching the maximum regulatory tenure permitted for the role. The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Sunday Ekwochi, the company secretary of Access Holdings.

Usoro officially exited the position on January 29, bringing to a close a period of board leadership that Access Holdings acknowledged as impactful and steady, particularly during a time of transformation within the Nigerian banking sector.

A Familiar Face Within the Access Bank Board

Osime is not new to the Access Bank ecosystem. She joined the board in November 2019 as an Independent Non-Executive Director, where she quickly became a key contributor to board-level governance and strategy.

Before her elevation to chairman, she led two influential board committees — the Human Resources and Sustainability Committee, as well as the Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee. In these roles, she played a central part in shaping leadership succession, strengthening corporate governance frameworks, and embedding sustainability principles into the bank’s long-term strategy.

She also served on several other board committees, further deepening her familiarity with the bank’s operations, culture, and growth ambitions.

Extensive Legal and Corporate Governance Background

Beyond Access Bank, Osime brings decades of experience from the legal, insurance, and financial services sectors. She is currently a director at Ebudo Trust Limited and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial law while contributing to the firm’s strategic leadership.

Her past board roles include serving as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Coronation Insurance Plc, Chairman of Coronation Life Insurance Company Limited, and a Non-Executive Director at Bank PHB, now known as Keystone Bank Limited.

Osime’s professional journey began at the Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation, after which she moved to African Development Insurance Company Limited (now NSIA Insurance). There, she held dual roles as Company Secretary and Assistant General Manager for Administration and Legal, gaining hands-on executive and governance experience.

Academic and Global Exposure

A graduate of Law from the University of Benin, Osime was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She later earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Commercial and Corporate Law from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Her commitment to continuous learning is reflected in her participation in executive education programmes at some of the world’s leading institutions, including INSEAD, IMD, Harvard Business School, MIT, and Stanford University.

Leadership Endorsement

Reacting to the appointment, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Chairman of Access Holdings, described Osime as a leader of strong principles with a deep understanding of the bank’s values and strategic direction.

He expressed confidence that her leadership would help Access Bank sustain long-term value creation for shareholders and stakeholders, in line with the group’s ambition to become the world’s most respected African bank.

Aig-Imoukhuede also commended Paul Usoro for his service, applauding his leadership and contributions during his tenure as board chairman.

10 Things to Know About Ifeyinwa Osime’s Appointment

1. She becomes Chairman following the retirement of Paul Usoro after completing his regulatory tenure.

2. Osime has been on the Access Bank board since November 2019.

   
   
   

3. She previously chaired key board committees overseeing governance, remuneration, and sustainability.

4. Her professional background spans law, insurance, and financial services.

5. She is a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners.

6. Osime has served on the boards of Coronation Insurance and Coronation Life Insurance.

7. She was formerly a non-executive director at Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank).

8. She holds an LL.M. from the London School of Economics.

9. She has completed executive programmes at Harvard, Stanford, MIT, INSEAD, and IMD.

10. Her appointment reinforces Access Bank’s focus on strong corporate governance and leadership continuity.