The Angaza Awards: Women to Watch in Banking & Finance program has opened the call for entries for the “2021 Top 10 Women to Watch” list that will feature women across the various industries that make up the financial services sector.
The entry period for the Award runs from 1st August 2021 to 30th October 2021.
The 2021 Award follows last year’s program which covered the East Africa Region and was sponsored by Equity Bank Group and Old Mutual Ltd, attracting entries from Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda and featured Dr Nancy Onyango of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and New York Times Best-Selling Author Gail Evans as keynote speakers for the Award ceremony.
This year, the Award seeks to recognize women from across Africa who are shaping the financial sector through their organizations.
“The Angaza Awards put a spotlight on my professional achievements for the first time; concurrently brought attention to NCBA Bank, but most importantly raised the profile of female bankers in Rwanda. My favourite quote from the media was: ‘We thought there was only one female banker in Rwanda, until Angaza’,” said Lina M. Higiro, Chief Executive Officer, NCBA Bank Rwanda PLC who was recognized as one of the Top 10 Women to Watch in Banking and Finance.
“Angaza Awards 2020 has built my credibility in the international space and validated my outstanding position back home,” said Millicent Omukaga, Advisor on Women Empowerment and Financial Inclusion at African Development Bank Group, who was also recognized. “Highlighting my achievements made me stand out as a solid banking and finance professional among my peers,” she added.
Angaza Awards 2021 Judges
The 2021 Pan-African Awards judging panel includes:
- Catherine Musakali, Women on Boards Network (Kenya)
- Esohe Denise Odaro, Head of Investor Relations, International Finance Corporation (United States)
- Hedwige Nuyens, Managing Director, International Banking Federation (UK)
- Yawa Hansen-Quao, Executive Director, Emerging Public Leaders (Ghana)
- Maxwell Pirikisi, Director, South African Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SACCI); President, South Africa-Nigeria Business Chamber (SA-NBC)
- Joanita Lunkuse – Jaggwe, Expert on Financing, Office of the Prime Minister, Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (Uganda)
- Luke Ombara, Director of Regulatory Policy and Strategy, Capital Markets Authority (Kenya)
The Angaza Awards criteria include an assessment of the applicants’ area of responsibility and contribution to firm performance. Scores are also awarded for achievement that transcends the institution and results in the sector and, or community shared value creation. Professionals in Banking, Capital Markets, Insurance, Investment Banking, Fintech, Fund Management, Microfinance, and Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) are invited to submit their applications or nominations via the Award Web page at www.AngazaAwards.com.
“The common thread that tied together all the 2020 participants, regardless of their country or industry, was the pursuit of excellence. The Top 10 Women to Watch are truly exceptional and stand head and shoulders above their peers in terms of delivering quantifiable results that create long-term impact for their firms, the economy and society,” said Nuru Mugambi, Angaza Awards Chairperson. “We are excited to open up the Angaza Awards to the Continent and we look forward to showcasing the amazing talent that we know is out there.”
“This year’s Angaza Awards will be a unique set of awards focusing on the role of women in Sub Saharan Africa’s financial services industry,” says Erick Asuma, the CEO of The Kenyan Wall Street.
“From the inaugural awards in 2020, we saw first hand how compelling the business case for gender diversity in senior and executive positions is. Financial institutions that have the best records for promoting women outstripped their competition on every measure of profitability.”
The Kenyan Wallstreet, a financial news media company and Kaleidoscope Consultants partnered together on the Awards to raise awareness of seasoned women who are shaping and influencing the sector.
