Access Holdings Plc has reaffirmed its long-term value creation strategy, reporting a profit before tax of ₦1.007 trillion for 2025 as it held its 4th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, where Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said the Group is prioritising balance sheet strength, disciplined growth, and sustainable earnings over short-term performance.
At the centre of discussions was the Group’s 2025 performance, which the Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, described as evidence of a deliberate shift towards strengthening fundamentals while sustaining strong earnings.
He said the defining test of a financial institution goes beyond expansion to the quality and sustainability of its growth.
“The defining test of a financial institution is not merely its capacity for growth, but its ability to grow profitably, sustainably, and with discipline over time,” he stated.
The Group reported a profit before tax of ₦1.007 trillion, supported by a diversified earnings base across key markets. Total assets rose to ₦51.56 trillion, while customer deposits also recorded strong growth, reflecting what the Board described as sustained franchise momentum and increasing customer trust.
However, the Chairman stressed that the results were achieved alongside strategic balance sheet clean-up actions taken during the year, including accelerated recognition of legacy exposures and the exit from regulatory forbearance positions, which led to elevated impairment charges.
He explained that the decision was intentional and reflected a long-term approach to risk discipline rather than short-term earnings optimisation.
“Periods of volatility 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 and sustainability of its earnings,” he stated.
The AGM also highlighted the Group’s continued transition into a broader financial services ecosystem, extending beyond traditional banking into investment management, insurance, pensions, consumer finance and digital payments.
Growth contributions are increasingly coming from subsidiaries including Access ARM Pensions, Access Insurance Brokers, Oxygen X Finance, and Hydrogen Payments, which the Group said are expanding its digital finance capabilities and strengthening its long-term earnings mix.
According to the Chairman, this transformation is anchored on an “ideas-to-ventures” strategy designed to position Access Holdings as a platform for innovation and future growth engines rather than a conventional financial institution.
Looking ahead, Aig-Imoukhuede said the Group’s strategic direction is now focused on value realisation.
“The Strategy, From Scale to Value, reflects the natural evolution of our journey. Scale created opportunity, value creation is how we fully realise it,” he stated.
He further noted that despite strong headline performance, closing the gap between returns and cost of equity remains central to unlocking shareholder value, while also acknowledging significant unrealised value within the Group’s international subsidiaries.
On shareholder returns, the Board addressed concerns over dividend payments, explaining that the decision not to declare dividends was driven by regulatory alignment and compliance requirements within its banking subsidiary.
Aig-Imoukhuede stressed that the position should not be interpreted as weakness in earnings capacity, but rather as a reflection of prudential capital management and regulatory compliance.
“Our approach is clear: capital retained today must translate into value delivered tomorrow and sustainable returns to our shareholders,” he said.
The Group also confirmed progress in strengthening governance and leadership continuity during the year, including the appointment of Innocent C. Ike as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and the addition of Ibironke Adeyemi as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
The Chairman said these leadership changes were carefully managed to ensure stability, continuity of strategy and sustained stakeholder confidence.
On sustainability, Access Holdings reiterated its commitment to financial inclusion, SME support, and investments in education, the arts and the creative economy as part of its broader development agenda.
Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, the Group expressed confidence in its strategic positioning, citing its diversified structure, disciplined execution and strengthened capital base.
Aig-Imoukhuede concluded with a strong message on stewardship and long-term responsibility 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,” he said.
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