Winners for the 2020 African Banker Awards were announced Wednesday recognising the reforms, rapid modernisation, consolidation, integration, and expansion of Africa’s banking and financial system.
This year, Nigerian-based group Access Bank and also women in the banking and finance sector emerged the biggest winner.
“Following on from what was seen as a lack of inclusion last year, the organisers put an emphasis to reward institutions that ensured that women and financial inclusion were at the forefront of their agenda,” read a statement from the African Banker, a quarterly magazine dedicated to banking and finance in Africa.
The Central Bank Governor of the year went to Caroline Abel, from the Seychelles and the Finance Minister of the Year went to Nigeria’s Zainab Ahmed.
The organisers had noted that despite difficult circumstances Ms Ahmed had managed to push through a set of difficult reforms as well as successfully engaging international partners to help the country navigate an extremely challenging economic environment.
The 2020 African Banker Award Winners
African Banker of the Year
Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ahmed Abdelkefi, Founder Tunisie Leasing; Tuninvest; Tunisie Valeurs
African Banker Icon
Vivien Shobo, Former CEO Agusto & Co.
African Bank of the Year
Trade and Development Bank (TDB)
Minister of Finance of the Year
Ms Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance of Nigeria
Central Bank Governor of the Year
Caroline Abel, Central Bank Governor of Seychelles
Investment Bank of the Year
Citi
Award for Financial Inclusion
Kenya Women Microfinance
SME Bank of the Year
Bank of Industry, Nigeria
Socially Responsible Bank of the Year
Equity Bank, Kenya
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Innovation in Banking
Ecobank
Deal of the Year – Equity
MTN Nigeria IPO – Chapel Hill Denham
Deal of the Year – Debt
Bank of Industry €1bn syndicated senior loan facility – Bank of Industry / Afreximbank / Credit Suisse
Infrastructure Deal of the Year
Port of Maputo – Standard Bank
Energy Project of the Year
Renewable Energy Bond – Nedbank
Agri Deal of the Year
Olam Rice Farm – Access Bank
Regional Bank of the Year
East Africa – Equity Bank
West Africa – Coris
North Africa – CIB, Egypt
Southern Africa – Moza Banco
Central Africa – BGFI, Gabon
