Mrs. Chizoma Okoli Retires from Access Bank Amid Guards of Honour and Farewell Celebration
By Arikawe Femi
Mrs. Chizoma Okoli, HCIB, Deputy Managing Director (DMD), Retail South at Access Bank, has officially retired from the bank effective April 30, 2026, marking the end of a distinguished career spanning over three decades in Nigeria’s banking industry.
Oge Kasie-nwachukwu (Corporate Comms,) Omobola Faleye (Group Head, Internal Audit), Chioma Okoli (Outgoing Deputy Managing Director), Olumide (MD GHANA Subsidiary), Amaechi Okobi (Group Head, Corporate Comms)
Her exit was marked with a formal farewell programme organised by the bank’s management, featuring a guards of honour in recognition of her service, leadership, and contributions to the growth of the institution. The symbolic honour reflected the high esteem in which she is held within the organisation.
The farewell event also brought together members of the executive management team, senior staff, and colleagues who gathered to celebrate her professional journey and legacy. Speeches delivered during the ceremony highlighted her role in strengthening institutional processes, driving strategic initiatives, and contributing to the bank’s expansion and operational excellence over the years.
Mrs. Okoli was appointed Deputy Managing Director, Retail South in March 2022 after joining Access Bank as an Executive Director in 2019. In her role as DMD, she managed retail banking operations across the southern region, with responsibility for driving SME growth, expanding the customer base, and deepening financial inclusion across key markets.
Her leadership is widely credited with reinforcing retail banking structures, enhancing customer experience delivery, and supporting the bank’s broader strategic objectives in Nigeria’s highly competitive financial services sector.
Her banking career began in 1992 at the former Diamond Bank Plc, where she steadily rose through the ranks over the years. She was appointed Executive Director in 2016 and continued in that capacity until the 2019 merger between Diamond Bank and Access Bank, after which she transitioned into the enlarged institution.
An accomplished professional, Mrs. Okoli holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Benin and an MBA from Warwick Business School, United Kingdom. She is also an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), reflecting her standing within the professional banking community.
Beyond her executive responsibilities, she serves on the boards of United Payment Services Limited, Fiducia Data Services Limited, and other industry-related organisations, where she contributes expertise in governance, financial strategy, and digital payments.
Tributes from colleagues and management described her as a disciplined, visionary, and result-driven leader whose influence extended beyond her immediate portfolio, shaping leadership culture within the bank.
The ceremony concluded with goodwill messages, presentations, and a standing ovation as she formally bowed out of active service, marking the close of a significant chapter in the institution’s leadership history.
Her retirement signals a leadership transition within Access Bank as the institution continues to strengthen its executive structure and strategic direction.
