Access Holdings Plc has reported a significant improvement in its financial performance for the 2025 financial year, with shareholders’ funds rising to ₦4.33 trillion and profit before tax exceeding the ₦1 trillion mark as the group strengthened its capital base and expanded its diversified financial services operations.
The Chairman of Access Holdings, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, disclosed this during the company’s 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to him, shareholders’ funds increased by 15.1 per cent from ₦3.76 trillion in 2024 to ₦4.33 trillion in 2025, reflecting the group’s continued focus on capital strengthening and long-term value creation.
The company also recorded substantial growth in its balance sheet, with total assets rising by 24.2 per cent to ₦51.56 trillion from ₦41.49 trillion recorded in the previous year.
Customer deposits grew even more strongly, climbing by 53.4 per cent to ₦34.56 trillion, underscoring sustained customer confidence and expansion across the group’s operations.
Aig-Imoukhuede disclosed that Access Holdings posted a profit before tax of ₦1.007 trillion, representing a 16.2 per cent increase over the previous year and highlighting the resilience of its earnings base despite challenging economic conditions.
“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.
“Our 2025 performance reflects a deliberate approach to strengthening the institution’s long-term fundamentals while maintaining strong financial results,” he said.
The chairman noted that the group deliberately accelerated the recognition of legacy exposures and exited regulatory forbearance positions during the year, resulting in higher impairment charges but strengthening the institution’s balance sheet and long-term resilience.
He explained that the strategy was aimed at improving the quality of earnings rather than pursuing short-term profitability.
“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.
Aig-Imoukhuede further revealed that Access Holdings continued its transition from a traditional banking institution into a diversified financial services ecosystem, with growing contributions from subsidiaries operating in pensions, insurance, digital finance, lending and payments.
He identified key growth subsidiaries including Access ARM Pensions, Access Insurance Brokers, Oxygen X Finance and Hydrogen Payments as major drivers of the group’s expansion strategy.
According to him, the transformation is anchored on an “ideas-to-ventures” model designed to position the company as a platform for innovation and future growth.
Looking ahead, he said the group’s strategic focus had shifted from pursuing scale to delivering greater value for shareholders.
“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 said.
Addressing concerns raised by shareholders regarding dividend payments, Aig-Imoukhuede clarified that the temporary suspension of dividends was driven by regulatory compliance requirements within the banking subsidiary rather than any decline in earnings capacity.
He assured investors that the board remained committed to resuming dividend payments once regulatory conditions are fully met.
“Our approach is clear: capital retained today must translate into value delivered tomorrow and sustainable returns to our shareholders,” he said.
The chairman also reiterated the group’s commitment to sustainability, financial inclusion and support for small and medium-scale enterprises, while highlighting investments in education, the creative industry and social development initiatives.
Speaking at the AGM, the National Coordinator of the Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Bisi Bakare, commended the board and management for the company’s strong performance and expressed confidence in its future growth prospects.
Bakare also praised Access Holdings for promoting gender diversity and expanding its international operations.
Similarly, the National President of the Trusted Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Aliu Mohammed, lauded the company’s financial discipline, citing growth in assets, deposits and revenue as evidence of prudent management.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Sunny Nwosu, described the performance as historic and expressed optimism that the company would declare an interim dividend before the end of the year to further reward shareholders.
The strong financial performance reinforces Access Holdings’ position as one of Africa’s leading financial services groups, with management expressing confidence that its diversified business model and strengthened capital base will support sustained growth in the years ahead.
