Access Holdings Plc has announced that Roosevelt Ogbonna, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, has resigned from its Board as a Non-Executive Director after three and a half years of service.
According to a statement signed by the Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, the decision was taken in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Corporate Governance Guidelines for Financial Holding Companies, 2023, which caps the maximum number of directors at nine for financial holding companies.
It states: “Access Holdings Plc today announces the resignation of one of its Non- Executive Directors Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna from the Board after three and half years of dedicated service.
“Mr. Ogbonna continues to serve as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, the Company’s flagship subsidiary.
“His resignation allows the company to comply with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Corporate Governance Guidelines for Financial Holding Companies in Nigeria, 2023, which stipulates a maximum of nine (9) directors for the Board of a Financial Holding Company.
The board commended Ogbonna for his commitment and contributions during his tenure, noting that his insights helped shape strategic decisions at the group level.
“The Board appreciates Mr. Ogbonna for his outstanding and continued contributions to the Access Group.”
Despite stepping down from the holding company’s Board, Ogbonna will continue to lead Access Bank, the group’s flagship subsidiary, where he has been instrumental in driving growth and innovation across Nigeria’s banking sector.
The company also announced the appointment of Innocent Ike as the substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective August 29, 2025, following the receipt of regulatory approval.
Ike will succeed Bolaji Agbede, who has served as the Company’s Acting
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer for the past 18 months, and has played a vital role in driving the Company’s performance.
Due to regulatory stipulations on the required years of experience for a Financial Holding Company’s Managing Director, Agbede will revert to her substantive role as the Company’s Executive Director, Business Support.
“During Agbede’s tenure, Access Holdco achieved significant milestones, including ensuring workforce stability and seamless transition following the demise of the former Group Chief Executive Officer; successful execution of the Company’s N351 Billion Rights Issue and seamless hosting of two Annual General Meetings of the Company.
“Her leadership and strategic vision have not only maintained the Company’s momentum but also strengthened its competitive position in the industry,” the statement read.
Commenting on the development, the Company’s Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike as we move forward. At the same time, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Ms. Bolaji Agbede. Her outstanding contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable, and we appreciate her dedication in navigating the Company through challenges and opportunities.
“While regulatory requirements necessitate this change, we are grateful for the strong foundation that has been laid.”
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Ike graduated from the University of Lagos with a BSc (Hons) in Accounting in 1988, receiving recognition as the Best Graduating Student. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and a Certified IFRS expert.
He has over three decades of experience in banking and financial services, ten years of which were spent at Access Bank, where he rose to General Manager, overseeing portfolios in corporate, commercial, and public sectors.
He served as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank from 2020 to 2022, during which he launched VULTe, the bank’s digital banking platform, earning several industry awards, including the BusinessDay BAFI Digital Bank of the Year Award and the Nigerian Fintech Digital Bank of the Year Award in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Speaking on the appointment, Ike said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer and excited to work alongside the talented team at Access Holdings. I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders and stakeholders.”
