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Access Holdings Reaffirms Commitment to Driving Inter-, Intra-African Trade

• Banking subsidiary targets November for African Trade Conference

Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of Access Bank Plc, has announced a series of initiatives aimed at empowering small businesses across Africa and enhancing intra-African trade. During a recent media roundtable, the leadership team, including Acting GCEO Ms. Bolaji Agbede, and Group Managing Director/CEO, Roosevelt Ogbonna, shared insights on the company’s strategic priorities for the coming years.

“Our commitment to fostering economic growth in Africa is well established,” said Agbede. “We believe that by supporting small businesses, we can create lasting economic value and drive meaningful change across the continent.”

Ogbonna outlined the strategic priorities for 2023–2027, which focus on infrastructure investments, retail banking, and small business empowerment. “We aim to provide an enabling environment for small businesses to access new markets on the continent,” he stated. To facilitate this, Access Bank will host a trade conference in November, designed to connect small businesses and stimulate intra-African trade.

The bank’s commitment to infrastructure investment is evident, with 61 new branches opened in Nigeria this year alone, despite challenging economic conditions. “This expansion showcases our dedication to enhancing retail banking and improving customer access to financial services,” Ogbonna added. Furthermore, the bank is in the process of establishing fully digitalised branches, known as ‘branches of the future,’ which will leverage advanced technology to increase financial access for underserved communities.

Access Holdings is also focused on enhancing regional trade dynamics. By fostering partnerships and collaborations among small businesses, the company aims to create a robust network that supports economic development across Africa. “We are committed to building a sustainable ecosystem that empowers businesses and drives growth,” Ogbonna emphasised.

As Access Holdings continues to expand its footprint across the continent, it remains dedicated to its mission of creating lasting economic value for Africa and empowering businesses that can drive meaningful change.

Access Holdings Vests 23.8 million Units of Shares on Senior Executives

In line with the disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Exchange Limited, Access Holdings Plc , Africa’s leading financial services group, has announced the award of 23.8 million ordinary shares to some of its senior executives and executives of Access Bank, its flagship subsidiary. This is in pursuant of the terms of its shareholders approved Employees Performance Share Plan.

Bolaji Agbede, the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Roosevelt Ogbonna, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, and six others were vested with 23,883,790 units of the Group’s shares, worth a combined N427.13 million.

This was disclosed via notices duly filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Tuesday.

According to the filings, Ogbonna got the highest amount of shares totalling 12,345,679 units and worth N220.37 million, having been traded at N17.85 per share.

Agbede was vested with 2,216,992 units of shares, valued at N39.795 million.

Other directors, who had shares vested include Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director, African Subsidiaries, Access Bank, with 1,234,568 worth N22.16 million; Iyabo Soji-Okusanya, Executive Director, Commercial and Investment Banking Division, Access Bank, with 1,691,308 at N17.95 per share. Her vested shares are valued at N30.36 million, and Chizoma Okoli, Access Bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Retail South, who got 1,728,395 units valued at N30.85 million.

Dr Gregory Jobome, Executive Director, Risk Management, and Hadiza Ambursa, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, were each vested with 1,728,395 valued at N30.85 and N31.02m respectively. Access Holdings’ Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, was vested with 1,210,058 units of the Group’s shares worth N21.72m.

The shares were vested on May 3rd and May 6th.

The vesting of the shares is not a purchase or sale transaction in the context of the Exchange’s Rules.

ACCESS HOLDINGS PLC ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF MS. BOLAJI AGBEDE AS ACTING GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) has announced the appointment of Ms. Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company following the unfortunate demise of its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, on February 9, 2024.

The appointment is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Until her recent appointment, Ms. Agbede was the Company’s most senior founding Executive Director in charge of Business Support.

She has nearly three decades of professional experience cutting across banking and business consultancy services. Ms. Agbede commenced her professional career in 1992 at Guaranty Trust Bank and served in various capacities within the Commercial Banking and Operations functions rising to the position of Manager in 2001. She subsequently served as the Chief Executive Officer of JKG Limited, a business consulting outfit in 2003.

Ms. Agbede joined Access Bank Plc (‘the Bank’) in 2003 as an Assistant General Manager and was responsible for managing the Bank’s portfolio of chemical trading companies. She served as the Bank’s Head, Group Human Resources between 2010 and 2022 and was appointed the Company’s founding Executive Director, Business Support in 2022. She has a track record in successful people integration in business combination and culture transformation.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos (1990) and a Masters of Business Administration Degree from Cranfield University UK in 2002. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.

Ms. Agbede has attended several renowned leadership and professional development programmes including the High-Performance Leadership Programme organised by the IMD and the Strategic Talent Management Programme organised the London Business School.