Access Holdings affirms commitment to long-term value as profit hits N1tn

Access Holdings Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to long-term value creation, balance sheet resilience and disciplined growth, declaring that its strategic focus has shifted from building scale to unlocking sustainable shareholder value; even as the Group delivered a profit before tax of over N1 trillion in 2025.

Speaking at the company’s fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, on Wednesday, chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said the group’s performance reflects a deliberate effort to strengthen its long-term fundamentals while maintaining strong earnings growth.

The financial services conglomerate posted a profit before tax of N1.007 trillion for the 2025 financial year, while total assets rose to N51.56 trillion. Customer deposits also recorded strong growth, underscoring what the company described as sustained franchise momentum and deepening customer confidence.

However, Aig-Imoukhuede noted that the results should be viewed within the context of strategic decisions taken during the year to reinforce the Group’s balance sheet. According to him, Access Holdings accelerated the recognition of legacy exposures and exited regulatory forbearance positions, leading to elevated impairment charges.

He said the move is aimed at strengthening the institution’s long-term resilience rather than pursuing 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 said.

The AGM also underscored the group’s ongoing transformation from a banking-led institution into a diversified financial services ecosystem, with growing contributions from businesses spanning pensions, insurance, consumer lending, digital finance and payments.

The company highlighted the expanding roles of Access ARM Pensions, Access Insurance Brokers, Oxygen X Finance and Hydrogen Payments in diversifying earnings streams and supporting future growth.

According to the chairman, the group’s new strategic direction, tagged “From Scale to Value”, represents the next phase of its evolution after years of aggressive expansion across Africa and other international markets.

“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.

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Addressing shareholder concerns over the absence of dividend payments, Aig-Imoukhuede explained that the decision was driven by regulatory alignment and compliance requirements affecting the banking subsidiary rather than any deterioration in earnings capacity.

He assured investors that the Board remains committed to restoring dividend payments once regulatory conditions are met, stressing that retained capital must ultimately translate into stronger long-term shareholder returns.

“Our approach is clear: capital retained today must translate into value delivered tomorrow and sustainable returns to our shareholders,” he said.

The chairman also pointed to what he described as significant unrealised value within the Group’s international subsidiaries and pledged efforts to improve market recognition of the intrinsic worth of those businesses.

Access Holdings further reported progress in strengthening governance and leadership continuity, highlighting the appointment of Innocent C. Ike as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and the addition of Ibironke Adeyemi to the Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

The company said the leadership changes were executed seamlessly, ensuring continuity of strategy, operational stability and stakeholder confidence.

Beyond financial performance, the Group reiterated its commitment to sustainability, financial inclusion and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, while continuing investments in education, arts and the creative economy.

Despite prevailing macroeconomic uncertainties, Access Holdings expressed confidence in its outlook, citing its diversified business model, strengthened capital base and disciplined execution strategy as key drivers of future growth.

Aig-Imoukhuede concluded by assuring shareholders that the Group remains focused on building an enduring institution capable of delivering sustainable value over the long term.

“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.