Shareholders of Access Holdings Plc have expressed confidence in the company's long-term value creation strategy, affirming support for management's efforts to consolidate its pan-African and international investments into sustainable returns for investors.
The endorsement came at the conclusion of the group's Annual General Meeting (AGM), where shareholders commended the board and management for maintaining strong financial performance despite the decision not to declare a dividend for the 2025 financial year.
According to shareholder representatives, Access Holdings has demonstrated resilience and sustained growth, positioning the group for stronger value creation in the years ahead.
Founding Coordinator and Leader of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said investors remained confident in the future of the company, citing its transformation from a mid-tier bank into one of Nigeria’s largest financial institutions.
He noted that shareholders' understanding of the non-payment of dividends was based on confidence in the group's long-term prospects and historical performance.
Similarly, President of the Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr. Faruk Umar, said investors were focused on the broader growth outlook and expected the company’s strategic initiatives to generate significant long-term value.
National Chairman of the New Dimension Shareholders Association, Patrick Ajudua, described the group's financial performance as impressive, noting that gross earnings rose to N5.53 trillion in 2025, while total assets surpassed N51.5 trillion.
He explained that shareholders accepted the board's decision to suspend dividend payments as part of efforts to comply with regulatory requirements set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Chairman of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie, also expressed confidence in the company's earnings outlook, stressing that dividend payments should not be the sole measure of corporate performance.
According to him, Access Holdings remains capable of rewarding investors in the future, particularly as the group strengthens its balance sheet and aligns with regulatory expectations.
He, however, urged regulators to consider the impact of policy decisions on investors and called on the board to consider the possibility of an interim dividend later in the financial year.
National Coordinator of ISAN, Moses Igbrude, described Access Holdings as a strong and well-structured institution with the capacity to deliver substantial value to shareholders.
He said investors remained confident in the ability of management to achieve its projections and maximise returns from the group's expanding asset base.
Financial results released by the company showed that pre-tax profit increased by 16.2 per cent to N1.01 trillion in 2025, driven by growth in core banking operations. Gross earnings rose from N4.88 trillion in 2024 to N5.53 trillion, while operating income increased by 23.9 per cent to N3.17 trillion.
The group's total assets expanded to N51.56 trillion, while shareholders' funds rose to N4.33 trillion by the end of December 2025. Earnings per share stood at N13.48, while the cost-to-income ratio improved from 56.7 per cent to 51.7 per cent.
Despite the strong performance, shareholders approved the board's recommendation to retain earnings and focus on restructuring foreign investments in line with regulatory requirements, resulting in the non-declaration of dividends for the year.
The group's positive momentum continued into 2026, with first-quarter pre-tax profit rising to N272.1 billion from N222.78 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. Total assets increased further to N54.44 trillion, while total equity climbed to N4.4 trillion.
Speaking at the AGM in Lagos, Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, reiterated the group's commitment to sustainable growth, balance sheet strength, and long-term value creation.
He said the company's next phase of growth is anchored on its "From Scale to Value" strategy, which seeks to transform the benefits of expansion into stronger shareholder returns and sustainable earnings growth.
According to him, Access Holdings remains focused on ensuring that capital retained today translates into greater value and improved returns for shareholders in the future.
He added that the group would continue to pursue disciplined growth, enhance profitability, and unlock the value embedded in its international subsidiaries as part of efforts to strengthen its position as Africa’s gateway to the global financial system.