Access Holdings Plc., the parent company of Access Bank has emerged as Company of the Year at the Nigerian of the Year 2024 awards
The award, instituted in 2010 by National Infinity Magazine, has honoured notable Nigerians and institutions from all walks of life including public servants and business people and has expanded into recognitions for deserving corporate organisations.
Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the governor of Ekiti State and a well-respected philanthropist monarch from Southwest Nigeria, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, in Osun State, were also listed for honours at the Nigerian of the Year 2024 Awards.
In recognising Oyebanji, the sixth executive governor of Ekiti State who turned 57 on December 21, in the area of Leadership and Good Governance, National Infinity acknowledged his simplified and humble approach to governance while delivering on projects that have impacted the lives of the citizenry, thereby raising the bar in good governance.
For His Royal Majesty, Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, Aroyinkeye 1, the Orangun of Oke-Ila in Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, the charitable works of this teacher, political scientist and lawyer turned royal father, has earned him global and international recognition as a monarch with a heart of gold. Oba Abolarin is the second royal father after the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi who was honoured in 2017.
Although Oba Adedokun’s financial status does not place him in the league of multi-millionaire royal fathers, but, he is excessively endowed with that milk of human kindness which has now earned him the Nigerian of the Year 2024 in the field of Humanitarian Services.
Recognition came the way of Access Holdings Plc for its roles in the economic advancement of Nigeria especially in the banking sector. The parent company of Access Bank Nigeria Limited, with 583 branches nationwide is Nigeria’s second largest bank and named Company of the Year 2024, for its global expansion that has led to acquisitions of banks across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
It is on record that in Nigeria’s over 130 years of the banking industry’s existence, no Nigerian bank has successfully undertaken the massive acquisition and expansion embarked upon by Access Holdings especially in the last five years. The company’s late Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe had emerged Banker of the Year in 2017 when corporate award segments was introduced to the Nigerian of the Year Awards.
Past recipients of the Nigerian of the Year which is now in its 14th edition are: Alhaji Aliko Dangote (2010), Rt. Hon, Aminu Tambuwal (2011) The Nigerian Mases (2012) Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2013), Ebola doctor, Late Dr. Stella Adadevoh and Ahmed Abdulfattah, Gov. Kwara State, (2014) Sen. Aisha Jumai Alhassan (2015) as well as Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll, Ooni of Ife (2017) while ‘the bullet-dodging governor’ Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum won in 2020, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, Chairman, NDLEA was the winner in 2022, While Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde won in 2023.
Opay Digital Services Limited a fintech mobile money operating company, for its innovative and reliable cash transfer services during those crazy days of Naira scarcity in 2023, beat others like: Moniepoint Inc., Kuda, and PalmPay to emerge as Company of the Year while Revolutionplus properties emerged Nigeria’s Most Trusted real estate company in 2023.
The award presentation will be held in January 2025 during the Babatunde Jose Lecture on Media and the Society on a date to be announced later.