NIGERIA – Access Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Mr Hassan Usman, as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the bank, following the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Hassan’s appointment comes at a time when the Bank has just concluded a number of acquisitions which are aimed at making the Bank a true African commercial finance instruction.

In august this year, Access Bank announced that its Zambian subsidiary had completed the process to merge its operations with those of Cavemont Bank to create one of the largest banking institutions in Zambia.

During the same month of August, Access Bank renamed Transanational Bank Kenya Ltd to Access Bank Kenya after completing the acquisition process.

The Bank is reported to have spent about US$12.92 million (Ksh1.4 billion) in buying the Kenyan bank which was mainly focused on financing the country’s agricultural sector.

’We are delighted to be joined by Mr Hassan M.T. Usman, a leader with a rich blend of academic, entrepreneurial and public sector experience which are all relevant to the needs of our Board,’’ Chairman of Access Bank Plc, Ajoritsedere Awosika said.

Mr. Usman is the Founder/Chief Executive Officer of New Frontier Development Limited, an investment company focused on financial advisory, hospitality, real estate and proprietary investments in startups and challenged companies in the SME space.

He is also the Founder/Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Al-Qalam (Pen) Foundation, a Non-for-Profit Organization that provides educational opportunities to disadvantaged children.

Prior to his new appointment, he was the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Aso Savings and Loans Plc and an Executive Director at Abuja Investment and Property Development Company Limited.

Usman has also previously worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Arthur Andersen and CitiBank Nigeria.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Sussex and a Master of Philosophy in Development Economics from the University of Cambridge.

 He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and also an Eisenhower Fellow and Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow of the African Leadership Institute.

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