Proshare Report: Access Holdings Tops Tier 1 Banks in Credit Risk Management with 2.76% NPL Ratio

Nume Ekeghe

Access Holdings Plc has been named the Nigerian Tier 1 bank with the strongest asset quality, following its industry-low non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 2.76 per cent, according to Proshare’s 2025 Tier 1 Banking Report.

The report, titled “The Class of 2025: Getting Bigger, Bolder, and Dominant”, ranked Access Holdings second overall in the Tier 1 category, placing just behind Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), which led with a percentile score of 100.

Access Holdings followed closely with a 91st percentile ranking, ahead of Zenith Bank at 73 percent, FirstHoldco at 82 percent, UBA at 64 percent, and GTCO at 55 percent.

In terms of NPLR performance, Access Holdings maintained a remarkable 2.76 per cent, outperforming Zenith Bank at 3.54 per cent, GTCO at 4.07 per cent, UBA at 3.80 per cent, ETI at 6.25 per cent, and FirstHoldco at 6.70 per cent.

This places Access Holdings at the forefront of asset quality management among Nigeria’s top banks and reaffirms its reputation for operational discipline amid market volatility.

In a statement commenting on the achievement, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings PLC,Bolaji Agbede, said: “This ranking is not just a measure of our financial health; it reflects the strength of our governance, the quality of our decision-making, and the focus we place on long-term value creation. It is a testament to the discipline of our people and the effectiveness of our pan-African strategy.”

She added: “At Access Holdings, we believe that sustainable success lies in balancing growth with resilience. We will continue to execute with precision, build with purpose, and innovate with integrity as we expand our presence across Africa and beyond.”

The 2025 edition of the Proshare Bank Strength Index (PBSI) introduces a recalibrated framework that reflects the realities of the ongoing recapitalisation exercise in Nigeria’s banking sector.

This edition goes beyond traditional financial metrics and incorporates broader determinants of profitability, stability, and stakeholder value.

The PBSI model emphasises capital adequacy and scale, asset quality and sustainable growth, digital transformation and earnings diversification, governance quality and board diversity, as well as profitability and cost-efficiency. 

Access Holdings demonstrated strong fundamentals across all these parameters. It closed Full Year 2024 with total assets of N41.5 trillion and a loan book of N13.1 trillion.

The Group’s capital adequacy ratio stood at 20.46 per cent, while asset growth for the period reached 55.49 percent.

Its cost of risk was held at 1.25 percent, net interest margin recorded at 6.80 per cent, and earnings growth was an impressive 88.05 percent, all indicators of a business built on financial soundness and execution excellence.

Speaking at the launch event, Olufemi Awoyemi, Chairman of Proshare, described the report as a vital mirror into the shifting dynamics of Nigeria’s financial services industry.

“Access Holdings has proven itself as a strong, adaptive institution. Its robust capital base, successful fundraising, and continental expansion efforts show a group that is not only growing but evolving. As recapitalisation reshapes the banking landscape, institutions like Access Holdings will continue to define the future of finance in Africa.”

He further remarked on the nuance behind ETI’s top ranking, noting, “ETI remains a unique case due to its pan-African structure and relatively limited regulatory exposure within Nigeria. Unlike Access Holdings and other locally regulated groups that must meet the N500 billion recapitalisation threshold, ETI’s broad regional footprint dilutes its local obligations. That distinction must be made when interpreting rankings.”

The report concludes that the Class of 2025, particularly Access Holdings, Zenith, UBA, FirstHoldco, GTCO, and ETI, dominate the banking landscape in terms of capital strength, asset size, loan portfolios, and governance quality.

ENDS

2ND STORY ON JUMP 9

Lagos First Lady Sounds Alarm on Drug Abuse, Urges Joint Effort

Mary Nnah

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has sounded the alarm on the devastating impact of drug abuse on families, describing it as a menace that must be tackled collectively.

She made the call while leading an awareness walk to commemorate the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

 The event, organised by MTN Foundation in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), drew attention to the urgent need for awareness and action against substance abuse.

Dr. Sanwo-Olu said, “Drug abuse is destroying a lot of families out there, the youth, the elders, and the grandparents. We need to work together to kick this menace out of Nigeria.”

According to Dr. Sanwo-Olu, the issue of drug abuse is very important, and it’s not just a problem in Nigeria or Lagos State, but a global problem. “We have the highest rates in Lagos, but it’s actually a global problem,” she said. “That doesn’t mean that we should cut ourselves on the back. We need to work together to ensure that we kick this menace out.”

The event highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing the problem of drug abuse and the need for sustained awareness and education efforts.

Dr. Sanwo-Olu emphasised that the government cannot do it alone and that everyone has a role to play in the fight against drug abuse. “We can’t do it alone,” she said. “The government can’t do it alone. The private sector can’t do it alone. So, we need to work together to ensure that we kick this menace out of Nigeria.” 

The campaign’s theme, “Say No To Drugs And It’s Everybody’s Business,” resonated with participants, who pledged to join the fight against drug abuse. As the First Lady led the awareness walk, she urged Nigerians to join forces to combat drug abuse and promote a healthier society.

As Dr. Sanwo-Olu said, “Let’s work together to kick this menace out of Nigeria.” With collective action and determination, it is possible to create a society that is free from the scourge of drug abuse.

The awareness walk and campaign aim to mobilise young people and communities against drug abuse, promoting a healthier and safer society for all. As Dr. Sanwo-Olu aptly put it, “No to drugs, yes to life.”

Dr. Mosun Belo-Olusoga, Chairman of MTN Foundation, echoed the First Lady’s sentiments, emphasising the importance of prevention. “If people know, or students know, or children know how to say no to drugs, then as adults, they won’t be addicted to drugs. Cut it from the roots and ensure that everybody knows that drug abuse will be detrimental to their future progress”, she said. 

Dr. Belo-Olusoga also highlighted the role of peer pressure and idleness in driving drug abuse. “I think peer pressure is a major factor,” she said. “For some people, it’s also idleness. And you know, peer pressure, you want to belong. You want to be happening.”

Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, Director of MTN Foundation, added that the fight against drug abuse must extend to the family level, involving parents and communities in the conversation. “We need to take this down to the family level,” she said. “We need to get parents into this conversation, and it doesn’t have to be only parents in urban centres, in rural communities.”

Prof. Okoye also emphasised the importance of awareness and education in preventing drug abuse. “We need to build a huge advocacy team made up of women, youth volunteers, and NYSC members,” she said. “We need to use structures that are already in existence to reach more people.”

The event concluded with a call to action, urging Nigerians to join forces to combat drug abuse and promote a healthier society.