Access Holdings CEO emphasizes institution building over business growth

Innocent C. Ike, Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Holdings Plc, has advised African business leaders to prioritize the development of strong institutions over simple expansion to ensure long-term value. Speaking at the Stanford Seed G3 (Growth, Grit and Global) 2026 conference in Lagos, Ike argued that while many executives can achieve growth, true global leadership is defined by the ability to build organizations that can manage complexity, attract large-scale capital, and thrive across generations independently of individual leaders.

Ike noted that a global chief executive should be judged by the quality of decisions made amidst complexity rather than the number of jurisdictions in which a company operates. He described scale as an outcome, whereas institution building is the underlying capability required to sustain it.

The two-day event, organized by the Seed Transformation Network, Nigeria, gathered entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to discuss the role of African businesses in driving economic growth and job creation. Access Holdings participated as a partner, engaging with businesses regarding financing opportunities through the conference's Deal Room.