Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede CFR (born September 24, 1966) is a Nigerian businessman, banker, investor, and philanthropist. He is widely recognized for his transformative role in the Nigerian banking sector, particularly as the former Group Managing Director (GMD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Bank Plc, which he co-built into one of the country's largest and strongest financial institutions.Early Life and Education Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede was born on September 24, 1966. He hails from Sabongida-Ora, Edo State, in Southern Nigeria. He received his early education at St. Saviours School in Lagos and attended Federal Government College Kaduna in Northern Nigeria. At age 16, he enrolled to study law at the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, where he graduated with an LLB degree in 1986 at age 19. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. Aig-Imoukhuede furthered his education by attending a three-month Executive Management Programme course at Harvard Business School in 2000. He also holds a Trium MBA, awarded jointly by the London School of Economics, New York University, and HEC Paris. He is an honorary fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a fellow of the African Leadership Institute affiliated with the Aspen Institute.Career Progression and Major Achievements Aig-Imoukhuede began his professional career as a lawyer before transitioning into banking. His most notable career move occurred in 2002 when he, along with his business partner Herbert Wigwe, led a strategic acquisition of Access Bank, which was then one of the smallest and most crisis-prone banks in Nigeria. Over the next decade, Aig-Imoukhuede served as the GMD and CEO, successfully steering the bank’s growth and expansion into a major financial services player. In 2014, he founded the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG). He is also the founder and chairman of Coronation Group Limited and its affiliates, Coronation Asset Management Ltd and Trium Ltd, as well as the founder of the Tengen Family Office.Notable Works and Philanthropy In addition to his corporate achievements, Aig-Imoukhuede is actively involved in philanthropy and public service. He is the Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, which focuses on improving public sector effectiveness and access to quality healthcare. In 2019, he initiated the Adopt-A-Healthcare-Facility Programme (ADHFP). He serves on the boards of several influential organizations, including the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF)—a body he helped create through a partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Fund (NSIA)—GBCHealth, ABCHealth, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), and EnterpriseNGR. He is also the Vice Chairman of Global Citizen Nigeria. In October 2021, Aig-Imoukhuede collaborated with the office of the Head of the Nigerian Civil Service (OHCSF) to digitalize work processes and public service delivery.Current Status Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede is currently the Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of Access Bank. He continues to lead the Coronation Group and his various philanthropic and governance initiatives. His memoir, *Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa* (Red Door, 2020), recounts his journey in transforming Access Bank. He is married to Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, and they have four children. In recognition of his national contributions, he has been awarded the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). In 2018, he received the honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) from the Olabisi Onabanjo University.