By Adedapo Adesanya

Mrs Ifeyinwa Osime has been appointed as the chairman of the board of Access Bank Plc, following the retirement of Mr Paul Usoro on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

Mrs Osime, an accomplished legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired the Board Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee.

This role made her contribute significantly to bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

In addition to her role at Access Bank, Mrs Osime is a Director at Ebudo Trust Limited and a Partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectorial Group.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Mrs Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.

Speaking on her appointment, the chairman of Access Holdings, Mr Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said: “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the Bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the Bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African Bank.”

He also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and for his exemplary leadership, dedication and significant contribution to the Group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access Bank family.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The African Energy Bank (AEB), a pan-African financial institution established to mobilise capital for the continent’s energy development and strengthen regional energy value chains, will begin operations in June 2026.

This came as Nigeria officially handed over the headquarters of bank at a ceremony held on the sidelines of the ongoing Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES).

The president of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) and Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mr Mamadou Colibaly, praised Nigeria for its leadership in bringing the initiative to fruition, as he disclosed the bank was expected to commence operations in four months’ time.

“We are committed to launching this bank no later than June. I sincerely thank our partners for providing the headquarters and office that make this take-off possible. The African Energy Bank represents Africa’s commitment to finance, develop, and secure its own energy future by Africans, for Africans,” he said.

The African Energy Bank is a joint initiative of APPO member states and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), established to mobilise domestic and regional capital for Africa’s energy infrastructure, reduce dependence on external financing, and align energy investments with the continent’s long-term development and industrialisation agenda.

While performing the handover, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, said the country had fulfilled all its responsibilities as host nation.

“Nigeria has met every obligation as host. The headquarters is ready, strategically located, and fully equipped, and we are prepared for immediate take-off.”

The ceremony highlighted a growing consensus among African leaders on the need for the continent to take greater ownership of its vast natural resources.

Through tailored financial instruments, the bank is expected to support projects across the energy value chain, including exploration, refining, renewable energy integration, and local content development, with a focus on job creation and economic value addition.

The African Energy Bank has been touted as not just another financial institution, but a strategic pillar in Africa’s quest for economic independence and long-term energy security

The African Energy Bank is a pan-African financial institution jointly promoted by APPO member states and Afreximbank to provide tailored financing solutions for energy projects across the continent, strengthen regional energy markets, and support sustainable development through improved access to capital.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Entrepreneurs in the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sector in Nigeria have been assured access to finance by Polaris Bank Limited to strengthen the country’s non-export ecosystem.

The financial institution gave this assurance at the NAHCO and NACCIMA Export Group Programme themed Breaking Barriers: Helping SMEs Navigate Export Procedures for Agro Products and Other Commodities.

An executive director at Polaris Bank, Mr Chris Ofikulu, underscored the national importance of export diversification and the central role of MSMEs in building a resilient economy.

He noted that reducing Nigeria’s dependence on oil revenues requires coordinated action across the public and private sectors to strengthen non-oil exports, particularly within agro-exports and commodity trade.

“Expanding non-oil exports is not optional; it is a strategic imperative for building a resilient, inclusive and competitive Nigerian economy. SMEs, particularly in agro-exports and commodity trade, hold the key to unlocking our true comparative advantage.

“Polaris Bank remains committed to providing the finance, advisory support and partnerships required to help them scale confidently and compete globally,” Mr Ofikulu said.

Also addressing stakeholders, the Team Lead for Trade Services at Polaris Bank, Mr Olaleye Arinola, highlighted the importance of removing trade and payment bottlenecks that limit exporter competitiveness and cash flow, emphasizing the lender’s focus on building confidence and certainty into the export process through practical financial and advisory support.

“Exports cannot grow if finance and payments remain obstacles. At Polaris Bank, our focus is on removing friction from international trade by ensuring SMEs get paid faster, safer and with greater certainty through efficient trade finance, secure cross-border payments and hands-on guidance across documentation, FX and compliance,” Mr Arinola said.

It was gathered that the one-day engagement brought together regulators, industry stakeholders, exporters and trade bodies to advance practical solutions for easing trade barriers, improving access to finance and building a more resilient and diversified Nigerian economy.

The programme also marked the formal introduction and launch of the NACCIMA Export Group and the NAHCO Export Support Centre for MSMEs in Nigeria, creating a structured platform for exporters to access trade facilitation services, logistics support, regulatory guidance and financial solutions across the export value chain.

The engagement also focused on addressing structural challenges confronting exporters, including infrastructure gaps, port inefficiencies, logistics constraints, standards and certification requirements, and policy consistency.

Participants emphasized the need for stronger public-private collaboration among government agencies, trade bodies, financial institutions and logistics partners to simplify export procedures and improve market access for Nigerian SMEs.

As part of its partnership with the business and trade community, Polaris Bank unveiled a Dedicated Help Desk for NACCIMA members, designed to provide direct access to trade finance and payment support, fast-track resolution of export-related enquiries, and personalized advisory services on FX documentation and regulatory compliance.