By Rashidat O. Okunlade
Access Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Mrs. Ifeyinwa Osime as Chairman of its Board of Directors, following the retirement of Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, who stepped down on January 29, 2026 after completing his regulatory tenure.
The appointment was approved by the Board of Access Bank Plc, the flagship subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc, and takes effect immediately.
Mrs. Osime is a seasoned legal practitioner and corporate governance expert with decades of experience spanning banking, insurance, and corporate advisory.
She joined the Board of Access Bank in November 2019 as an Independent Non-Executive Director and, prior to her elevation, chaired the Board Human Resources and Sustainability Committee, as well as the Board Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee. She also served on several other board committees, where she made notable contributions to leadership development, governance, and sustainability strategy.
Beyond Access Bank, Mrs. Osime currently 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 and contributes to the firm’s strategic leadership. Her previous board experience includes roles as Independent Non-Executive Director at Coronation Insurance Plc, Board Chairman of Coronation Life Insurance Company Ltd, and Non-Executive Director at Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank Limited).
She began her professional career at Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation before joining African Development Insurance Company Limited (ADIC)—now NSIA Insurance—where she served as Company Secretary and Assistant General Manager, Administration and Legal.
Mrs. Osime is a law graduate of the University of Benin and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Commercial and Corporate Law from the London School of Economics and has completed executive education programmes at INSEAD, IMD, Harvard Business School, MIT, and Stanford University, underscoring her commitment to global best practices and continuous professional development.
She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, 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 responsibilities, she is actively involved in mentoring young people and supports initiatives focused on autism and developmental delays, reflecting her commitment to inclusion and social impact.
Commenting on the appointment, Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, described Mrs. Osime as a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“Mrs. Osime has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Bank’s vision and mission. I am confident that, under her leadership, Access Bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and stakeholders, in pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank,” he said.
Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede also congratulated Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, on the successful completion of his tenure, commending his leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the Group, while wishing him continued success in his future endeavours.
