Samuel Omang
Access Holdings Plc has confirmed the appointment of Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The announcement, contained in a statement signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, on Wednesday, came just hours after Roosevelt Ogbonna resigned from the company’s board in compliance with the apex bank’s new corporate governance guidelines.
Ike succeeds Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who had been serving in an acting capacity since February 2024, following the tragic death of former Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, in a helicopter crash in the United States. Agbede will now return to her role as Executive Director, Business Support.
Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described the appointment as the beginning of a “new phase” for the group.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike as we move forward. At the same time, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Ms. Bolaji Agbede. Her outstanding contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable, and we appreciate her dedication in navigating the company through challenges and opportunities. While regulatory requirements necessitate this change, we are grateful for the strong foundation that has been laid,” Aig-Imoukhuede said.
During Agbede’s stewardship, the group achieved several milestones, including the successful execution of a ₦351 billion rights issue, workforce stability, and the seamless hosting of two annual general meetings.
In his acceptance remarks, Ike pledged to build on the legacy of his predecessors, Wigwe and Agbede, while steering the group into a stronger growth phase.
“I am honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and excited to work alongside the talented team at Access Holdings. I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders and stakeholders,” he said.
A graduate of the University of Lagos, where he emerged as the Best Graduating Student in Accounting in 1988, Ike is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He is also a certified IFRS expert.
With over three decades of experience in banking and financial services, Ike previously spent a decade at Access Bank, rising to the rank of General Manager before serving as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank between 2020 and 2022. At Polaris, he introduced VULTe, the bank’s award-winning digital platform, which became a major driver of customer engagement and innovation.
His appointment is expected to consolidate Access Holdings’ position as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, with growing influence across key markets.