Access Bank Plc once again demonstrated its commitment to the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) as it hosted an exclusive roundtable with its SME customers in Abuja.
The event, aptly titled “An Exclusive Roundtable with Chizoma Okoli,” held on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja, brought together hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners across diverse sectors. It was more than a corporate engagement; it was a genuine heart-to-heart conversation between the Bank and its customers.
The session opened with a remark from the Bank’s Unit Head, Strategic Communications, Oge Kasie-Nwachukwu, who welcomed guests and set the tone for the conversation. She then introduced the Bank’s Deputy Managing Director (Retail South), Mrs. Chizoma Okoli, whose presence was both reassuring and inspiring for the customers.
Addressing customers at the event, Okoli said, ‘At Access bank, we love SMEs, and that is why we have been engaging our SME customers across Nigeria since last year to know their pain points and how to serve them better. We have engaged with our customers in Portharcourt, Enugu, and Lagos. Today, we are in Abuja, we are here for you; to engage, to listen, and to understand how we can make our products and services better suited to your needs,” she said, earning nods of approval from the audience.
The event quickly evolved into an open, candid engagement where customers were encouraged to share their experiences and challenges. Participants raised issues ranging from technology downtimes and loan conditions to communication gaps and staff responsiveness. One recurring concern was the stringent collateral requirements attached to loan facilities.
Mr. Bala Muhammed, a public health consultant, urged the Bank to review its loan policies to make them more accessible to small businesses. On the other hand, Mrs. Ifeoma Grace Okoye, a small business owner, praised the Bank for its sustained support but encouraged it to do even more to empower SME operators.
Okoli in her response, addressed each issue with some reassuring honesty. On technology, she revealed that Access Bank is undergoing a major digital upgrade to ensure faster and smoother transactions. On loan conditions, she explained that regulatory standards from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sometimes shape internal policies, but assured customers that the Bank was exploring ways to ease access to credit and improve turnaround times.
“We are here because of you. We cannot do without you. We are not an institution that claims to know it all. We recognize our shortcomings, and we are committed to doing more,” she said with a resonating tone that reflects humility and sincerity.
The Group Head, SME Banking, Mrs. Abiodun Olubitan, also took the stage to outline some of the Bank’s key SME support initiatives, including its collateral-free loan scheme and other innovative financing solutions tailored to help small businesses scale.
Oge Kasie-Nwachukwu, Unit Head, strategic communications also reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to enhancing communication with its customers. She emphasized that Access Bank remains open to partnerships and sponsorships that can help SME clients gain more visibility and access to growth opportunities.
As the dialogue deepened, customers became more knowledgeable about products and interventions the Bank had introduced in recent years they had not been aware of. Another customer, Mr. Lolu Adewalure, Chief Operating Officer of Rex Africa, commended the Bank for its consistency in dishing out values. Mr. Adewalure however called for further improvements in its digital infrastructure to enhance customer experience.
At the end of the extended session that lasted well beyond the scheduled closing time, many customers described the engagement as enlightening and impactful. They applauded the Bank’s leadership for creating an avenue where customers could be heard directly and their concerns addressed in ample time.
For Access Bank, it was not just another customer engagement; it was a reaffirmation of its philosophy; more than banking, it is about building relationships that empower growth. As the guests departed with smiles and renewed confidence, one sentiment echoed across the hall: Access Bank was not just talking about customer care; it was living it.
