At 55, Olakunle Aderinokun exemplifies how work ethic, public trust, and strategic clarity can converge to redefine an institution’s voice. As Head of Media and Public Relations at Access Holdings Plc, he has quickly become one of the steady hands steering the corporate narrative of one of Africa’s most visible financial powerhouses, the Online Reporters Association of Nigeria (ORAN) reports.
Appointed in 2024, Aderinokun stepped into the role at a defining moment for Access Holdings. The job demanded more than technical skill, it required emotional intelligence, institutional memory, and strategic depth. He brought all three in abundance.
His career path reads like a masterclass in cross-industry fluency. With roots in banking and investment analysis, plus over two decades in journalism — including senior editorial roles at THISDAY and ARISE News, Aderinokun arrived with a 360-degree grasp of the media ecosystem.
That background has proved invaluable. Under his watch, Access Holdings has sharpened how it communicates vision, resilience, and market leadership to stakeholders at home and abroad. He understands both the newsroom’s urgency and the boardroom’s precision.
Yet beyond strategy decks and press statements lies his strongest asset: a people-first leadership style. Inside his media team, Aderinokun has built a culture anchored on excellence, professionalism, and collaboration.
Colleagues describe a leader who chooses influence over authority. He leads without noise, and that quiet approach has lifted team cohesion and the quality of output. It has also made him a natural partner to Access Holdings’ top communications echelon, including Group Head of Communications, Amaechi Michael Okobi.
That synergy delivered a major win recently. Inspired by Group Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and working directly with Okobi, Aderinokun secured a high-impact special feature in the Financial Times UK. The placement included a standout corporate centrespread for Access Holdings and a full-page advert for Access Bank UK.
The timing was masterful, the publication went live to coincide with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s landmark State Visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026, amplifying Nigeria’s financial sector story on a global stage.
Outside the Access family, Aderinokun’s most defining trait is his relationship with the Fourth Estate. Having risen through journalism’s ranks, he keeps an open-door policy that is practice, not cliché. Reporters, editors, online publishers, and broadcasters across Nigerian newsrooms attest to his accessibility, fairness, and deep respect for the craft.
A member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (ACIB), Aderinokun blends art and science in communication. A Mathematics degree from the University of Ilorin gives him analytical rigor; an MBA from the University of Lagos adds administrative edge. As he marks his 55th birthday today, April 20, he celebrates not just years, but impact. From all of us at ORAN: Happy birthday, Sir , Mr. Olakunle Aderinokun.
