By Peace Udugba
Access has been recognised by CFA Society Nigeria as the largest employer of CFA candidates in Nigeria, highlighting the Group’s growing role in developing the next generation of investment and finance professionals.
The recognition was contained in CFA Society Nigeria’s Where Nigeria’s Finance Professionals Work series, published in a national daily. The ranking showed that Access employs 82 CFA candidates, more than twice the number recorded by the next-ranked institution and the highest among organisations in Nigeria’s financial services industry.
Access also ranked second among employers of CFA charterholders, reflecting its ability to attract experienced professionals while developing future financial leaders with globally recognised expertise.
The recognition goes beyond workforce numbers, highlighting the growing importance of professional development in strengthening Africa’s financial services industry.
As financial markets become increasingly interconnected and customer expectations evolve, institutions that invest consistently in highly skilled professionals are expected to play a key role in promoting confidence, good governance and long-term economic growth.
The CFA Charter is widely regarded as one of the world’s most rigorous professional qualifications in investment management, covering areas including ethics, financial analysis, portfolio management and professional standards.
CFA Society Nigeria said the rankings were compiled using data from its Salesforce Membership Database as of June 2026.
For Access, the recognition reflects its commitment to building professional capacity at scale. Across its banking, pensions, payments, insurance brokerage and consumer lending businesses operating in 25 countries across Africa, Europe and Asia, the Group has continued to invest in structured learning, professional certifications and leadership development as part of its broader strategy to create sustainable value.
Industry observers have increasingly identified investment in professional excellence as a key differentiator for financial institutions competing in international markets. Institutions that build technical expertise and ethical leadership are better positioned to innovate responsibly, manage risk effectively and earn the confidence of customers, investors, regulators and other stakeholders.
The recognition also aligns with Access Holdings’ long-term aspiration to become the world’s most respected African financial services group. While scale remains an important measure of growth, the ability to develop professionals who meet globally recognised standards is increasingly seen as an indicator of an institution’s quality, resilience and credibility.
Developing Nigeria’s largest pipeline of CFA candidates therefore represents more than an internal achievement for Access. It also contributes to raising professional standards within Nigeria’s financial services ecosystem and strengthening Africa’s capacity to compete in global capital markets.
Commenting on the recognition, Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Innocent C. Ike, said the ranking reflects a corporate culture that places continuous learning and professional excellence at the centre of the organisation’s growth strategy.
“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, part of the global CFA Institute network, said the rankings recognise organisations that invest in professionals who bring rigour, integrity and global best practices into the workplace.
The society noted that talent development is becoming increasingly important to strengthening Nigeria’s financial sector and supporting the continent’s long-term economic ambitions.
