Shareholders of Access Holdings Plc have approved a total dividend of N125.3bn for the financial year ended December 31, 2024.

The approval was granted at the company’s Annual General Meeting held on Thursday in Lagos, where shareholders commended the board and management for the group’s performance and expansion strategy.

According to the board, a final dividend of N2.05 per share was proposed, bringing the total dividend for 2024 to N2.50 per share.

Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said the company’s performance reflects the strength of its balance sheet and resilience despite macroeconomic challenges.

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.”

Aig-Imoukhuede added that gross earnings rose by 88 per cent year-on-year from N2.59tn in 2023 to N4.88tn in 2024, while profit before tax grew from N729bn to N867bn.

Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, Bolaji Agbede, said the company recorded growth across major balance sheet indicators and maintained a healthy, diversified financial position.

She noted that Access Holdings is strategically positioned for growth across its banking operations in 22 markets on four continents, as well as 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.

The PUNCH reported that 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.