When Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman, Access Holdings, stepped into the AfriCaribbean Trade & Investment Forum (ACTIF) 2025 in Grenada, the agenda was global, linking Africa and the Caribbean through new pathways in trade, energy, and digital innovation, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.

Days later, he was thousands of miles away, walking through the halls of Zambia’s largest referral hospital, where Access Bank Zambia had just renovated a maternity ward.

The shift in setting, from high-level international dealmaking to hands-on community impact, captures the essence of Access Holdings’ approach: to make a positive impact in Africa

Building Bridges at ACTIF 2025

At ACTIF 2025, Aig-Imoukhuede joined heads of government, business leaders, and investors to explore opportunities for stronger Africa–Caribbean economic collaboration.

The discussions, focused on sectors like tourism, agriculture, renewable energy, and digital trade, highlighted the untapped potential for trade and investment flows between the two regions.

Accompanying him, Sunmbo Olatunji, CEO for Caribbean Expansion, Access Bank, described the Bank as a “bridge” for cross-continental partnerships. “We are building pathways for trade and investment that will outlast today’s market cycles,” she noted, underscoring the Group’s commitment to long-term, sustainable growth.

Powering Zambia’s Economic Future

Fresh from ACTIF, Aig-Imoukhuede travelled to Lusaka for a high-level meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema.

Discussions centred on Zambia’s energy and agriculture sectors, with the Chairman pledging up to $100 million in financing for strategic projects aimed at closing the country’s power generation and transmission gaps.

President Hichilema welcomed the commitment, stressing that increased energy investment would boost key industries, particularly mining, where copper production is expected to reach 1 million metric tonnes this year.

CSI at the Heart of Community Ties

The Chairman also paid a courtesy visit to Zambia’s Vice-President, H.E. W.K. Mutale Nalumango, where the spotlight shifted to Access Bank’s community impact and growing footprint in Zambia.

She cited the renovation of Maternity Ward B03 at the University Teaching Hospital and ongoing capacity-building programmes for women as clear examples of the Group’s commitment to social transformation.

Aig-Imoukhuede was joined by Access Bank Zambia Managing Director, Lishala C. Situmbeko, and Acting Board Chairperson, Mildred Kaunda, who reiterated the subsidiary’s role in delivering innovative financial solutions and empowering Zambians.

“Zambia is central to our pan-African vision. We are here to build enduring partnerships that unlock prosperity and improve lives” said Aig-Imoukhuede.

One Vision, Many Fronts

From forging trade links between Africa and the Caribbean to financing Zambia’s energy ambitions and improving local healthcare, Access Holdings is operating from a single, unifying vison: To be the World’s most respected African financial services group.

Amidst pomp and pageantry layered with a mixture of glitz and glamour, Zenith Bank Plc marked its 35th year anniversary with a commemorative Chairman’s Dinner at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday, August 15, 2025.

In recognition of their immense contributions to the success of the brand, the bank also presented commemorative awards and plaques to pioneer customers and long-serving staff, who have served meritoriously for 25 years and above.

The ceremony brought together key stakeholders of the bank including customers, staff (past and present), regulators, partners, and friends, who all came together to celebrate 35 years of excellent and innovative banking services that has propelled the banking giant to the peak of Nigeria’s financial industry.

Among the eminent personalities who graced the occasion were the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas; Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Governor of Delta, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who was ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir. Monday Onyeme; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON; and former governors Peter Obi and Udom Emmanuel (also an alumnus of Zenith Bank).

In her welcome address, the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON applauded the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR for his foundational role in building the structures for what has today become a shining example of excellence in the Nigerian banking industry and a globally recognised financial institution. She described him as “the Godfather of modern banking and the Nostradamus of our time, who through sheer tenacity, foresight, and uncompromising integrity transformed a modest vision into the financial powerhouse we celebrate today”.

In his goodwill message, the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, a proud alumnus of the bank, praised the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR for being at the heart of the very successful brand that today stands as Nigeria’s largest bank by Tier-One capital. According to him, “Long before technology became the bloodstream of global finance, Jim Ovia had already woven it into the DNA of Nigerian banking industry. He introduced innovation not as a fashion but as a philosophy, placing Zenith Bank on a path where excellence is not an ambition but a standard. Yet his true signature is not only on the balance sheet. For Jim Ovia, the people make an institution. His greatest investment has been in human capital – in transferring his experience and sense of adventure to generation after generation of bankers and investors forged at Zenith Bank”.

Also speaking at the event, the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, CFR expressed its immense appreciation to all guests for joining the bank in celebrating this momentous occasion. He thanked the bank’s esteemed customers and shareholders for their trust, confidence and shared vision; the regulators, for their guidance over the years; his friends and partners, for being a constant source of strength; the Zenith Bank family led by the exceptional Group Managing Diector/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, for their loyalty and commitment; and his beloved wife and family for their love and support.

Founded in May 1990, Zenith Bank has grown from humble beginnings into one of Africa’s leading financial institutions with branches across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja as well as subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, France, UAE and a representative office in China.

Access Bank has announced that it has been certified under ISO/IEC 27701:2019, the global standard for Privacy Information Management Systems.

The award, according to a statement by the management, demonstrates Access Bank’s consistent commitment to the highest levels of data privacy, security, and compliance.

The certification affirms that Access Bank operates a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS), which fully complies with the rigorous requirements of ISO/IEC 27701:2019.

The scope of the certification encompasses the management, processing, and protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) related to customers, employees, and third parties across the entire organisation.

This certification covers all physical and digital assets, processes, and information systems engaged in the collection, storage, processing, sharing, and disposal of PII throughout the bank.

The Statement of Applicability, version 15.0, dated March 27, 2025, demonstrates Access Bank’s role as both a PII Controller and a PII Processor, ensuring a robust framework for safeguarding sensitive information at every stage of its lifecycle.

The certification is referenced under ISMS Certificate, No. IS 583140.Dr. Favour Femi-Oyewole, Group Chief Information Security Officer / Data Protection Officer, Access Bank, commented, “Achieving the ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification is a testament to Access Bank’s proactive approach to information security, Data Protection and Privacy, which reflects our commitment to safeguarding the trust our customers place in us, and our culture of continuous improvement. It demonstrates our dedication to adopting global best practices and reinforces our position as a leader in privacy information management across the financial services sector.”

Lanre Bamisebi, Executive Director, IT and Digitisation, Access Holdings, remarked, “Securing the ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification marks a pivotal milestone in Access Bank’s journey to embed privacy and data protection at the heart of our digital strategy.

It also underscores the strategic investments we continue to make in digital innovation. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to building resilient systems that not only meet global standards but also anticipate the evolving expectations of our customers and regulators. It is the result of deliberate cross-functional collaboration and a forward-thinking approach to governance and trust.

Receiving the ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification shows Access Bank’s proactive approach to privacy management, its investment in state-of-the-art security infrastructure, and its commitment to building trust with stakeholders and the broader community.

Access Bank remains fully committed to upholding the privacy rights of all individuals and adapting to the evolving global data protection landscape.