News Highlights:
- Access Holdings posted a record ₦1.007 trillion Profit Before Tax and grew total assets to ₦51.56 trillion, reinforcing its focus on sustainable growth, balance sheet strength, and long-term value creation.
- The Group unveiled its “From Scale to Value” strategy, highlighting expansion beyond banking into pensions, insurance, consumer finance, and payments while prioritising resilience, governance, and future shareholder returns.
Access Holdings Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable growth, balance sheet strength, and long-term value creation, positioning these priorities at the centre of its corporate strategy as it navigates an increasingly dynamic operating environment.
Digital TimesNG reports that the commitment was reiterated at the Group’s 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM), where shareholders received updates on the company’s performance and strategic outlook.
Speaking at the AGM, the Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, stressed that the true measure of a financial institution extends beyond growth metrics to its ability to deliver profitability, sustainability, and disciplined execution over time.
According to him, Access Holdings’ performance in 2025 reflects a deliberate strategy aimed at reinforcing the institution’s long-term fundamentals while sustaining strong financial results.
He noted that the Group remains focused on building resilience, enhancing shareholder value, and maintaining prudent growth across its operations.
The Group delivered Profit Before Tax (PBT) of ₦1.007 trillion, underscoring the strength of its diversified platform and expanding earnings base across key markets.
Total assets increased to ₦51.56 trillion, while customer deposits grew strongly, reflecting sustained franchise momentum and deepening customer trust.
The Chairman, however, stressed that these results must be viewed within the context of the Group’s prudent risk management actions during the year. Access Holdings accelerated provisions on legacy and regulatory forbearance credit exposures, resulting in elevated impairment charges.
He explained that the Group consciously prioritised balance sheet strength and long-term resilience over short-term earnings optimisation.
“Periods of economic uncertainty often reveal more about an institution than periods of uninterrupted growth. Our focus remains on building a business that is not only growing but improving in the quality, resilience, and sustainability of its earnings,” he stated.
The AGM highlighted the Group’s continued evolution beyond traditional banking into a diversified financial services ecosystem, with growing contributions from investment management, insurance, pensions, consumer finance, and payments.
While banking remains the Group’s core earnings engine, emerging growth platforms, including Access ARM Pensions, Access Insurance Brokers, Oxygen X Finance, and Hydrogen Payments, are expanding their footprint across digital finance, consumer lending, retirement services, and payments, thereby strengthening the Group’s long-term earnings mix and scalability.
Looking ahead, the Chairman reiterated the strategic imperative underpinning the Group’s next phase of growth:
“Our strategy, From Scale to Value, reflects the natural evolution of our journey. Scale created opportunity; value creation is how we fully realise it.”
He noted that while the Group continues to generate strong returns, ensuring that earnings per share consistently exceed the cost of capital remains central to unlocking sustainable shareholder value.
He also acknowledged the significant unrealised value embedded within the Group’s international subsidiaries and reiterated management’s focus on improving market recognition of that intrinsic value over time.
The Board also addressed shareholders’ concerns regarding dividend payments, clarifying that the temporary suspension of dividend distributions was due to regulatory compliance requirements rather than any deterioration in the Group’s financial performance.
Aig-Imoukhuede reaffirmed that the Group’s earnings capacity remains strong and that the Board’s position reflects adherence to supervisory expectations and prudent capital management principles.
He assured shareholders of the Board’s commitment to resuming dividend payments as soon as the relevant regulatory conditions are satisfied.
“Our approach is clear: capital retained today must translate into greater value tomorrow and sustainable returns for our shareholders.”
Access Holdings further highlighted progress in strengthening governance and leadership continuity.
During the year, Innocent C. Ike was appointed Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and the Board was strengthened with the appointment of Ibironke Adeyemi as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
Shareholders also expressed appreciation for the outstanding contributions of Bolaji Agbede, Executive Director, Business Development, who successfully led the management team as Acting Group Chief Executive Officer before the appointment of Mr Ike.
The Chairman noted that the leadership transition was executed seamlessly, ensuring continuity of strategy, operational stability, and stakeholder confidence.
Despite continuing macroeconomic uncertainties across its operating markets, Access Holdings expressed confidence in its strategic positioning, underpinned by disciplined execution, a diversified business model, a strengthened capital base, and a clear focus on sustainable value creation.
Concluding his remarks, Aig-Imoukhuede reaffirmed the Group’s long-term commitment to shareholders: “Our responsibility is to justify the confidence of our shareholders by building an institution that endures, one defined by clarity of purpose, discipline of execution, and sustainable value creation over time.”
Access Holdings Plc is a leading African financial services group with operations spanning banking, payments, pensions, insurance, consumer finance, and investment management.
Through its diversified platform and presence across Africa and key international markets, the Group is committed to delivering sustainable growth, innovation, and long-term value for its shareholders and stakeholders.