Access Holdings Plc (NGX: ACCESSCORP) has reinforced its commitment to a performance-driven culture by vesting a substantial equity package for hundreds of its employees.
The vested shares were allocated across both managerial and non-managerial staff within the group. However, a small group of 14 employees, including Bolaji Agbede, the former Acting Group Managing Director, received about 70.6 per cent of the total shares vested.
Leading the list of beneficiaries in the 2022–2025 vesting cycle is Chizoma Okoli, Deputy Managing Director-Retail South at Access Bank. She received 5,502,183 units.
Okoli previously served as Executive Director, Business Banking, between 2019 and 2022. She joined Access Bank following its 2019 merger with Diamond Bank.
Other notable recipients included Rob Giles and Chuma Ajene with 1,965,066 shares each, alongside Iyabo Soji-Okusanya, who received 1,652,193 units.
The distribution spans multiple tiers, from senior management to mid-level professionals, with allocations as modest as 8,218 shares for Kenneth Obasi, ensuring broad participation in the company’s success.
Valued at an aggregate market worth of approximately ₦985 million, based on a reference share price of ₦25.03 around the announcement period, the vesting program translates into substantial financial recognition. Okoli’s award alone is worth over ₦138 million, while the trio of Ambursa, Jobome, and Kumapayi each hold stakes valued at nearly ₦98 million.
Collectively, these equity grants reinforce a culture of ownership, tying individual success to the long-term performance of Access Holdings on the Nigerian Exchange.
This substantial incentive not only represents a tangible financial reward for past performance but also serves as a powerful retention tool in a competitive talent landscape.
The Restricted Shares Performance Plan is more than a compensation mechanism; it is a deliberate governance strategy to instil ownership mentality among employees. By tying rewards to sustained performance, Access Holdings reinforces accountability and encourages strategic thinking at all levels.
The vesting, though effective from July 2025, was formally disclosed in November, allowing employees to realise gains amid a period of relative share price stability following earlier fluctuations.
Administrator and Writer
