By Peter Egwuatu

The shareholders of Access Holdings Plc, have unanimously commended its Board of Directors for making Access Bank to be the first Nigeria bank in meeting the  new capital requirement of the Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN ahead of the deadline.

The shareholders at the  Company’s 3rd Annual General Meeting, AGM held in Lagos on Thursday endorsed the final dividend of N2.05 per share, thus making it a total of N2.50 per share, having declared 45 kobo per share interim dividend, which translates to a total of N125.295 billion proposal by its Board of Directors for the financial year ended December 31,2024.

The shareholders also endorsed all the proposed resolutions by its Board, while commending the Group’s  financial performance for the year under review.

All the shareholders leaders’ groups who spoke at the AGM, such as Boniface Okezie, Nonah Awoh, Dr. Faruk Umar, Moses Igbrude,  Mrs. Oludewa Thorpe, among others said : “Given the Group’s performance, we believe that next year the dividend per share would be higher and not less than N4 per share. The successful Rights Issue showed the confidence that the shareholders have in the Management and Board of our company. We want the Management to also pay attention to cybercrime to avoid escalation of crime, and we also seek the confirmation of our Acting Group  Chief Executive Officer, CEO  by the CBN.

Addressing shareholders at the meeting, Aigboje Aig- Imoukhuede commended the shareholders for the unwavering support and commitment to Access Holdings and its subsidiaries.

He said: “ Despite the challenges we faced in the past year, our resilience and strategic initiatives have positioned us well for future growth.

“We have heard all the requests and advice given. We would consider them as we moved on.

Our performance in 2024 underscores the underlying strength of our balance sheet and the resilience of our Group. Our landmark capital raising through our Rights Issue, which you have commended is a boost. We raised N351 billion via Rights Issue. This strategic initiative made us the first Nigerian bank to meet the new N500 billion minimum capital requirement set by the CBN, well ahead of the 2026 deadline . The Rights Issue significantly bolstered our capital base, increasing our shareholders’ funds to N3.76 trillion. We concluded the year with total assets of N41.498 trillion, reflecting a remarkable year on year growth of 55.5% and reaffirmed our position as the largest financial company in Nigeria by asset size. In 2024, our gross earnings grew 88%  year on year, rising to N4.878 trillion from N2.594 trillion in 2023, while  Probit Before Tax rose to N867 billion from N729 billion.

Looking forward, he said : “ As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to driving innovation, enhancing customer experiences, and promoting sustainable practices that contribute positively to our communities.

Commenting as well, Bolaji Agbede, the Acting Group CEO, Access Holdings, said: “  We are strategically positioned to capture new growth opportunities across the globe financial services ecosystem; supported by a strong balance sheet , cutting edge technology, and a high performing team.We will continue to invest prudently as our focus remains clear to lead with purpose, grow with discipline, and deliver superior returns that stand the test of time”.