The Managing Director and Chief Executive of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Segun Agabje has been adjudged African Banker of the Year even as the bank clinched the Innovation in Banking award at the gala dinner of the African Development Bank Annual meetings on Wednesday.
Guaranty Trust Bank had been nominated for three awards including the 2016 African Bank of the Year award, Best Retail Bank and the Innovation Bank of the year award. GTB is the only Nigerian bank that clinched any award at this year’s African Banker Award.
According to organizers of the award, Agbaje had been awarded the African Banker of the year “for his leadership of the Nigerian banking giant, one of Africa’s most profitable banks.”
Cameroon’s Paul Fokam, a serial entrepreneur, a renowned economist and President of the Afriland First Group was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award while Daniel Matjila, Chief Executive of South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation, a fund with $139bn funds under management was awarded the African Banker Icon.
Matjila’s award recognizes the significant investments by the fund into African corporations and the lead role he has played in driving investment from South Africa into the continent.
Morocco’s Attijariwafa Bank, which is active in 20 countries, won the 2016 Bank of the Year award, while the 2016 the award for Africa’s Best Minister of Finance was bestowed on Cameroon’s Alamine Ousmane Mey, for his contribution to socioeconomic development in his country.
The African Central Bank Governor of the Year accolade was given to Kenya’s Patrick Njoroge. Kenya’s central bank, largely unknown a year ago, has managed to navigate a tough economic climate and Patrick has been credited with cleaning up the banking sector in his country.
Speaking at the Gala Dinner in Lusaka, ZambiaOmar Ben Yedder, Group Publisher of African Banker magazine, which hosts the awards in partnership with BusinessInAfricaEvents said “It has definitely been a defining decade in banking in Africa. We have recognised true leaders tonight who are playing a critical role in the socio-economic development of the continent.
“Finance remains a key component of development, be it in terms of financing massive infrastructure projects that today are being wholly financed by consortia of African banks, or SME financing. It’s happening because of strong, bold and visionary leadership. I have been privileged to honour some truly exceptional individuals who have left an indelible mark on the industry over the years.”
Since their inception 10 years ago, the African Banker Awards have become the pre-eminent ceremony recognizing excellence in African banking.
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