Business
Access Holdings Clarifies Dividend Position Amid Strong 2025 Earnings
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Access Holdings Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to longterm shareholder value and sustainable returns, following a strong performance in the 2025 financial year, while providing clarity on the rationale for the nonpayment of dividends for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The clarification was provided during the Group’s Full Year 2025 Investors and Earnings Call, where management addressed shareholder concerns regarding the absence of a dividend declaration despite the Group’s robust earnings growth and balancesheet expansion.
Access Holdings emphasised that the non-payment of dividend for the 2025 financial year was not performance driven, but reflected prudential regulatory alignment matters which required resolution before dividend payments could be effected.
Commenting on the matter, Innocent C. Ike, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings Plc, said: “Access Holdings has a strong history of consistent dividend payments, and rewarding shareholders remains a core priority for the Board and Management. The nonpayment of dividend for 2025 was not due to earnings weakness or cash flow constraints, but an alignment with regulatory and prudential guidelines.”
For the 2025 financial year, Access Holdings delivered a resilient and diversified performance, underscoring its capacity to generate sustainable shareholder returns. Gross earnings grew by 13.3 percent to ₦5.53 trillion, supported by strong growth in net interest income and a 40.9 percent increase in fees and commissions to ₦585.07 billion. Profit before tax increased by 16.2 percent to ₦1.01 trillion, crossing the ₦1 trillion mark for the first time in the Group’s history.
Total assets expanded by 24.2 percent to ₦51.56 trillion, reflecting scale accretion and the successful integration of recently acquired subsidiaries. The Group’s costtoincome ratio improved significantly from 56.7 percent to 51.7 percent, driven by disciplined cost management and operating leverage. Capital adequacy remained strong at 18.2 percent at the holding company level, while the banking subsidiary ended the year with a capital adequacy ratio of 20.2 percent.
“Our performance in 2025 demonstrates the strength of the franchise and its capacity to generate value for shareholders. Our focus is to ensure that shareholder distributions resume on a sustainable basis once all regulatory conditions are satisfied and the required approvals are obtained,” Ike added.
Access Holdings explained that while dividends were recommended at both halfyear and fullyear in 2025, regulatory approvals were not obtained. At the halfyear stage, the constraint related to Section 7.1 of the CBN Guidelines for Financial Holding Companies, which has since been fully resolved following the successful completion of an approved private placement.
At fullyear, an additional matter arose under Section 19(8)(c) of BOFIA, which places limits on investments in foreign banking subsidiaries relative to shareholders’ funds. The Group has been granted a twelvemonth window to fully remediate this position. The Group noted it will partially divest from some banking subsidiaries but will still retain its super majority shareholding.
According to Ike, maintaining the confidence of our regulators, depositors and stakeholders is fundamental to our operating philosophy. In line with our long-standing culture of prudence and sound governance, the Board remains committed to balance sheet strength and capital resilience, as the basis for sustainable shareholder distributions.”
The Group reassured stakeholders that it remains committed to engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders to address the matters raised and achieve alignment with applicable requirements within the stipulated timeline. As discussions progress, the Group will continue to provide timely disclosures and transparent updates to the market and investors.
Access Holdings Plc is also strengthening its capital and liquidity buffers to support the sustainable resumption of dividend payments, subject to the fulfillment of the required conditions and approvals.
Reaffirming management’s confidence, Ike stated: “We remain actively engaged with the investment community and focused on resolving the matters raised within the prescribed timeline. Our priority remains delivering sustainable long-term value to shareholders through stronger execution, improved financial performance and disciplined growth. Subject to the successful conclusion of this process and the necessary approvals, our objective is to restore dividend payments on a sustainable basis.”
Concluding, Ike said: “Access Holdings is uniquely positioned to leverage its scale, geographic diversification and strong franchise to deliver resilient earnings growth, stronger returns and enhanced long-term shareholder value.”
Access Bank Plc has said that a social media post announcing a shutdown of the bank’s operations, is false and misleading.
In a statement signed by the bank’s management, and made available to the media, the Bank insisted that the notice is the handiwork of mischief makers, who impersonated the bank’s official handle.
It advised members of the public to disregard the notice, and pay attention only to verified information from the verified accounts of the bank.
Below is the full statement:
“A message impersonating Access Bank’s official handle is currently circulating on social media and WhatsApp. It is false and misleading.
“We wish to reassure our customers, partners, stakeholders, and the public that Access Bank is safe, financially strong, and fully operational across all our subsidiaries. Our services continue to run seamlessly, and we remain committed to serving our customers with the highest standards of excellence.
“We are working closely with the relevant regulatory and law enforcement authorities to identify those responsible for creating and spreading this false information to cause panic and business disruption. Appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
“We also remind members of the public that creating, publishing, and disseminating false information capable of causing public alarm, damaging reputations, or undermining confidence in institutions constitutes an offence under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
“If you receive a false and misleading message, please do not share or forward it. Instead, disregard it and rely only on information communicated through Access Bank’s official and verified channels.
“We thank our customers, partners, and stakeholders for their continued trust and confidence in Access Bank.”
Business
Ecobank Nigeria Launches Scaling Up!!! Podcast to Champion African Entrepreneurship, Business Growth
Ecobank Nigeria has launched Scaling Up!!!, its flagship business storytelling podcast designed to inspire, educate and empower entrepreneurs, founders, business leaders and the next generation of African innovators through authentic conversations with some of the continent’s most accomplished business personalities.
The podcast, which will be available on Ecobank Nigeria’s official YouTube channel and other major digital streaming platforms, reinforces the Bank’s commitment to supporting businesses beyond banking by creating a platform where entrepreneurs can learn from the experiences of successful founders, creatives and industry leaders who have built thriving enterprises across diverse sectors.
Featuring compelling conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, resilience and business growth, Scaling Up!!! offers practical lessons and real-life insights that aspiring and established entrepreneurs can apply in building sustainable businesses.
The inaugural season features an impressive lineup of distinguished guests, including beauty entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Beauty by AD, Adeola Adeyemi (Diiadem); renowned filmmaker and Founder of Golden Effects Pictures, Kunle Afolayan; veteran music producer and Founder of Coded Tunes, ID Cabasa; luxury fashion entrepreneur Ejiro Amos Tafiri; celebrated commercial photographer Emmanuel Oyeleke; Co-founder and Lead Interior Designer of Siriano Limited, Adewunmi Adegbola; and Founder of Windsor Gallery and Nahous Creative Hub, Richard Vedelago.
Each episode explores the guests’ entrepreneurial journeys, highlighting the opportunities they embraced, the challenges they overcame and the strategies that enabled them to build enduring brands and successful businesses.
Speaking on the launch, Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Ecobank Nigeria, Austen Osokpor, said: “Scaling Up!!! reflects Ecobank’s belief that empowering entrepreneurs goes beyond providing financial solutions. Through authentic storytelling and insightful conversations, we are creating a platform where business owners can learn directly from people who have successfully navigated the realities of building sustainable enterprises. It is another way we are reinforcing our commitment to driving entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth across Africa.”
Also speaking, Head, SMEs, Partnerships & Collaborations, Ecobank Nigeria, Omoboye Odu, said: “Entrepreneurs learn best from the experiences of those who have walked the journey before them. Scaling Up!!! provides practical insights, inspiration and valuable lessons that will help founders make better business decisions, overcome challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth. The podcast further strengthens Ecobank’s role as a trusted partner supporting SMEs at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.”
Sharing the creative vision behind the initiative, the Producer of Scaling Up !!!, Jemimah Ugiagbe said: “Our goal was to create more than just another business podcast. We wanted honest, engaging and relatable conversations that reveal the realities behind success, the setbacks, the resilience, the bold decisions, and the lessons that every entrepreneur can learn from. Every episode is designed to leave listeners informed, inspired and motivated to build businesses that create lasting impact.”
The podcast further strengthens Ecobank Nigeria’s position as a trusted partner for entrepreneurs by providing a knowledge-sharing platform that extends beyond traditional banking services. Through meaningful conversations with accomplished founders and innovators, the Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering enterprise development, encouraging innovation and promoting sustainable economic growth across Africa.
Scaling Up!!! is targeted at SMEs, entrepreneurs, founders, startups, business executives, creatives, students and young professionals seeking practical business insights from some of Africa’s most respected industry leaders.
New episodes will be released regularly across Ecobank Nigeria’s YouTube channel and other major podcast streaming platforms, offering audiences thought-provoking conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and business growth.
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has been named Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank for Consumers 2026 by Euromoney, one of the world’s most respected authorities on financial services and banking excellence.
The prestigious recognition affirms the Bank’s sustained leadership in digital innovation, customer experience and financial inclusion, reinforcing its position as one of Nigeria’s leading technology-driven financial institutions.
Presented annually, the Euromoney Awards for Excellence celebrate banks that are redefining financial services through innovation, measurable impact and outstanding customer value. In selecting Wema Bank for the award, Euromoney recognised the Bank’s successful digital transformation journey, its continuous innovation through ALAT, Africa’s first fully digital bank, and its unwavering commitment to delivering simpler, smarter and more accessible banking experiences for customers.
Commenting on the recognition, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, said: “This award is a strong validation of the deliberate investments we have made over the years to build a truly digital bank that puts customers at the centre of everything we do. Innovation for us has never been about technology for its own sake. It has always been about creating solutions that make banking easier, faster, safer and more rewarding for every customer.
“From pioneering Africa’s first fully digital bank with ALAT to continuously evolving our digital capabilities, we have remained focused on anticipating customer needs and building experiences that create real value. We are honoured by this recognition from Euromoney and inspired to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation as we shape the future of banking in Nigeria,” he concluded.
A key milestone in Wema Bank’s digital transformation has been the evolution and upgraded version of ALAT, which introduced next-generation capabilities including voice banking, tap-to-pay functionality, personalised financial services and integrated investment opportunities through strategic partnerships. Together with faster digital onboarding, AI-powered fraud monitoring, intelligent customer personalisation and an expanding agency banking network, these innovations continue to enhance customer experience while extending financial services to more Nigerians.
Euromoney also recognised Wema Bank’s ability to leverage technology to build deeper customer relationships through data-driven personalisation, enabling customers to receive tailored recommendations across savings, investments and credit products based on their financial needs and behaviour.
For over eight decades, Wema Bank has remained at the forefront of innovation in Nigeria’s financial services industry. As the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, the Bank continues to redefine banking by combining technology, customer insight and innovation to deliver seamless, secure and inclusive financial solutions for individuals, businesses and communities.
The Euromoney recognition further reinforces Wema Bank’s commitment to building the future of banking through continuous innovation, operational excellence and customer-centric solutions that create lasting value.
