Access Bank
Abayomi Susan
Access has emerged as Nigeria’s largest employer of CFA candidates, according to a new ranking by CFA Society Nigeria, highlighting the Group’s growing role in developing the next generation of investment and finance professionals.
Published as part of CFA Society Nigeria’s Where Nigeria’s Finance Professionals Work series in a national daily, the ranking shows that Access employs 82 CFA candidates — more than twice the number recorded by the next-ranked organisation and the highest among financial services institutions in Nigeria. The Group also ranked second among employers of CFA charterholders.
The recognition highlights Access’ continued investment in professional development and its focus on building a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the changing demands of Africa’s financial sector.
The CFA Charter is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous professional qualifications in investment management, covering areas such as ethics, financial analysis, portfolio management and professional standards. The ranking was compiled using CFA Society Nigeria’s Salesforce Membership Database as of June 2026.
For Access, the achievement reflects a broader commitment to developing talent across its banking, pensions, payments, insurance brokerage and consumer lending businesses, which operate across 25 countries in Africa, Europe and Asia.
As financial markets become increasingly interconnected, strong technical expertise, ethical leadership and continuous learning are becoming critical to the success of financial institutions. Access’ investment in professional certification and leadership development is therefore positioned as an important part of its strategy to create sustainable value.
The recognition also supports Access Holdings’ ambition to become the world’s most respected African financial services group. Beyond business growth and scale, the Group continues to emphasise the importance of developing professionals who can meet globally recognised standards and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s financial future.
Commenting on the recognition, Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Innocent C. Ike, said the achievement reflects the organisation’s culture of continuous learning and professional excellence.
“We are proud that so many of our people are pursuing one of the most demanding professional qualifications in global finance, and that they are choosing to do it here, at Access. These rankings reflect a deliberate culture of excellence, one where rigour, integrity and continuous learning are not slogans but the way we work every day. Every candidate on that list represents our commitment to building institutions and professionals that endure.”
CFA Society Nigeria, a member of the global CFA Institute network, said the rankings recognise organisations that invest in professionals committed to rigour, integrity and global best practices.
The recognition further underscores the growing importance of talent development in strengthening Nigeria’s financial sector and enhancing Africa’s capacity to compete in global capital markets.
