Shareholders of Access Holdings Plc have given the green light to a total dividend payout of ₦125.3 billion for the financial year ending December 31, 2024.

The approval came during the company’s Annual General Meeting held on Thursday in Lagos, where shareholders applauded the board and management for the group’s strong performance and strategic expansion.

The board proposed a final dividend of ₦2.05 per share, raising the total dividend for 2024 to ₦2.50 per share.

Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, noted that the company’s robust performance underscores the strength of its balance sheet and its ability to remain resilient amid macroeconomic headwinds.

He said, “Central to this success was our landmark capital raising programme, through which we raised N351bn via a rights issue. This made Access Bank the first Nigerian bank to meet the new N500bn minimum capital requirement set by the Central Bank of Nigeria, ahead of the 2026 deadline. The rights issue significantly bolstered our capital base, increasing shareholders’ funds to N3.76tn.”

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede further highlighted that the company’s gross earnings surged by 88 per cent year-on-year, rising from ₦2.59 trillion in 2023 to ₦4.88 trillion in 2024, while profit before tax increased from ₦729 billion to ₦867 billion.

Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, Bolaji Agbede, noted that Access Holdings achieved growth across key balance sheet metrics and sustained a strong, diversified financial position throughout the year.

She emphasized that Access Holdings is well-positioned for growth, leveraging its banking operations across 22 markets spanning four continents, alongside its non-banking subsidiaries in investment management and technology.

“We will continue to invest prudently, manage risks effectively and build deeper relationships with all stakeholders to ensure consistent value delivery,” Agbede said.

According to report, Access Holdings Plc recorded a profit after tax of N642.2bn for the financial year ended December 31, 2024. This marked a four per cent increase from the N619.3bn reported in 2023.