Access Holdings Plc has announced that the Board of Directors of Access Bank Plc, its flagship subsidiary, has appointed Mrs. Ifeyinwa Osime as Chairman of the Board, following the retirement of Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN on January 29, 2026, upon the completion of his regulatory tenure limit.

Mrs. Osime is an accomplished legal practitioner with a strong background in corporate governance and strategic leadership.

She was appointed to Access Bank’s Board in November 2019 as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Prior to her recent appointment, she served as Chairman of the Board Human Resources and Sustainability Committee, as well as the Board Governance Nomination and Remuneration Committee, making significant contributions to governance, leadership development, and sustainability. She also served on several other board committees. In addition, she is a director at Ebudo Trust Limited and a Partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial legal matters, and contributes to the firm’s leadership and strategic direction. Her previous board experience includes serving as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Coronation Insurance Plc, Board Chairman of Coronation Life Insurance Company Ltd and Non-Executive Director, Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank Limited).

Mrs. Osime began her career at Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation and later joined African Development Insurance Company Limited (ADIC, now NSIA Insurance) as Company Secretary/ Assistant General Manager, Administration & Legal.

She is a law graduate of the University of Benin, Benin City and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She holds a Master of Laws in Commercial and Corporate Law from the London School of Economics and has attended executive education programmes at INSEAD, IMD, Harvard Business School, MIT, and Stanford, among others, reflecting her commitment to continuous professional development and global best practices.

Mrs. Osime is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Women Corporate Directors Nigeria Chapter, and Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, she is committed to mentoring young people and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.

Speaking on her appointment, the Group Chairman, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, said:

“Mrs. Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values. She has demonstrated strong commitment to the Bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the Bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the World’s Most Respected African Bank.”

The Group Chairman also congratulated Mr. Usoro on the completion of his tenure and for his exemplary leadership, dedication and significant contribution to the Group and wished him the best in his future endeavours noting that he shall remain a valued member of the Access family.

SUNDAY EKWOCHI
COMPANY SECRETARY

Statement on Investors’ Relations

Access Holdings Plc has a dedicated investors’ portal on its corporate website which can be accessed via this link: https://theaccesscorporation.com/investor-relations/ The Company’s Investors’ Relations Officer can also be reached through electronic mail at: investorrelation@accessholdingsplc.com, or telephone on: +2348161875482 for any investment related enquiry.

First HoldCo Plc has announced its unaudited financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025, reflecting a year of deliberate strategic actions aimed at strengthening its balance sheet, improving asset quality, and positioning the business for more resilient and sustainable growth amidst successful capital raise activities.

As stated in the unaudited Group financial statement, FirstHoldCo recorded a 4.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in its Gross earnings to N3.4 trillion, supported by a 36.3% y-o-y growth in net interest income of N1.9 trillion on the back of enhanced earnings yield and margins of 17.11% and 11.0%, respectively. Similarly, net fees and commissions improved by 18.7% y-o-y to N290.7 billion. These are clear indications of the strength of the revenue generating capacity of the core business which continues to be solid. Earnings for the year were, however, lower than the prior year, primarily due to higher impairment charges in the commercial banking segment. This is in line with a deliberate strategic decision to accelerate balance sheet clean-up and adopt more aggressive provisioning standards. Management views this as a prudent step that enhances transparency, strengthens investor confidence, and aligns fully with evolving regulatory expectations.

Additionally, increased regulatory costs affected profitability. These charges, while weighing on the results, underscore the Group’s compliance with Nigeria’s financial system stability framework and its commitment to ensuring systemic confidence. Despite these pressures, underlying performance of the Group remains strong.

Deposit liabilities grew by 10.0% y-o-y, driven by sustained deposit mobilisation and continued investment in digital banking platforms. This growth reflects strong customer confidence and deepening engagement across key segments. The deposit mix also showed a deliberate reduction in foreign currency deposits, resulting from the repayment of expensive funding and the impact of naira appreciation. This shift supports improved funding efficiency and reduces foreign exchange risk.

Gross loans and advances declined marginally, reflecting a disciplined approach to credit growth, strengthened risk management, loan repayments, write-offs, and the translation impact of a stronger naira on foreign currency facilities. The Group intensified its commitment to ensuring a high-quality, cleaner asset base, aiming to optimise the portfolio and enhance future earnings potential.

Furthermore, performance in earnings was impacted by a decline in non-interest income, mainly due to lower fair value gains on financial instruments following the naira appreciation in 2025. However, this was partially offset by stronger foreign exchange (FX) trading income and reduced FX revaluation losses. Net fees and commission income also grew, supported by higher electronic banking fees, letters of credit commissions, custodian fees, and account maintenance income, reflecting the continued success of the Group’s digital-innovation strategy.

While impairment charges increased following the end of regulatory forbearance, management has intensified recovery initiatives and reinforced credit oversight. Excluding impairment and fair value gains, pre-provision operating profit grew by 23.9% y-o-y to N973.3 billion demonstrating robust performance of the core business.

Apart from the commercial banking impairments, performance across the rest of the Group remained resilient, supported by steady customer activity and disciplined execution.

Looking ahead, the Group will continue to prioritise disciplined execution of its strategic objectives, with emphasises on enhancing efficiency and profitability, continuing to build on the Group’s digital and data capabilities, while sustaining a robust balance sheet to support increased value creation and returns for shareholders. Alongside this, the Group will pursue selective growth initiatives, including new revenue streams, additional business verticals, and deeper participation in targeted African markets, in line with our strategy and risk appetite.

Further details and insights are to be provided when the audited full-year results are published and during the subsequent investor and analyst earnings call.

Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has reinforced its commitment to community development and youth empowerment with the donation of educational and hygiene materials to pupils of Wesley Nursery and Primary School in the Makoko Waterfront Community, Lagos, under its Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP).

The FHHP outreach was led by the Bank’s Risk Management Directorate as part of a “Back to School” intervention aimed at improving learning conditions and promoting personal hygiene among children in one of Nigeria’s most underserved waterfront communities. Through the FHHP, staff receive matching financial support from the bank’s management to execute projects identified in response to their communities’ crucial needs.

A total of 124 primary school pupils benefitted from the initiative. Items donated included school bags, exercise books, writing materials, towels, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, designed to support both academic learning and healthy living.

Speaking at the outreach, Divisional Head, Remedial Assets, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Damian Orizu, who represented the Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Kevin Ugwuoke, said the initiative underscores the bank’s belief that its long-term success is closely linked to the wellbeing of the communities in which it operates.

“At Fidelity Bank, we strongly believe that our growth and success are closely tied to the wellbeing of the communities where we operate,” Dr. Orizu said. “This outreach is our way of investing in the future of Makoko’s children by supporting their education and promoting good hygiene, which are critical foundations for long-term development.”

Orizu further added, “The FHHP reflects the passion and commitment of our employees to make a tangible difference. I commend the Risk Management Directorate for championing this intervention and demonstrating that corporate responsibility starts from within.”

The Baale, Adogbo (1) Community, Makoko, Chief Victor Panke, thanked Fidelity Bank for its consistent support, noting the severe financial and transportation challenges faced by children in the area. “This support will go a long way in easing the burden on our children and their families,” Chief Panke said. “Many pupils struggle daily with transportation across the lagoon just to attend school. We are grateful to Fidelity Bank and appeal for continued assistance, especially in the area of boats to help our children access education more safely and easily.”

The Makoko outreach is the Bank’s third intervention in the community within the last two months. Through the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme, Fidelity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to education, hygiene and sustainable community development, with a special focus on vulnerable communities such as Makoko.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.