The African Banker magazine on Tuesday announced the shortlist of nominees for this year’s edition of its African Banker Awards.
According to the statement released by the magazine stating that a total of fifty nine (59) institutions, individuals have passed first round judging and are in running for the Awards.
It added that since its inception in 2007, the African Banker Awards has recognised the exceptional individuals and organisations driving Africa’s rapidly transforming financial services sector.
While the Award winners will be announced during a spectacular gala dinner ceremony on the 28th May, in Nairobi, Kenya, a part of official programme of The Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group.
The African Banker Awards is organised by IC Events. It is held under the patronage of the African Development Bank.
The Awards’ Platinum Sponsor is the African Guarantee Fund, with African Export-Import Bank and Vista Bank as the Gold Sponsors, and the Cocktail Reception being sponsored by African Trade & Investment Development Insurance.
Speaking about the Awards, Omar Ben Yedder, Chair of the Awards Committee, also noted the growing role of Development Finance Institutions. “Over the years, we have seen the evolving role of DFIs,” he said.
“They are playing an important role in structuring transactions and in catalysing development, often filling the gaps in areas that are under-served or under-represented.
“That said, the finance gap in infrastructure, trade and climate finance mean that the banking sector as a whole will need to be even better capitalised.
But looking back at the 18 years of the Awards, it is night and day when you look at the size of our domestic banks and the transactions they are capable of structuring”, he said.
Meanwhile, nominees were selected from a record number of entries from across the entirety of the African continent.
For the first time in the Award’s 18 year history, three nominees for the most prestigious ‘Banker of the Year’ are women, reflecting the growing number of female leaders in finance.
The nominees for the African Banker Awards 2024 are as follows: Bank of the Year, African Export-Import Bank, Ecobank, KCB Group, Raw Bank, Trade and Development Bank Group, Ugandan Development Bank and United Bank of Africa.
Banker of the Year: Admassu Tadesse – Trade and Development Bank Group, Anel Bosman – Nedbank, Karim Awad – EFG Holding, Miriam Olusanya – Guaranty Trust Bank.
Also, Patricia Ojangole – Uganda Development Bank, Serge Ekue – Banque Ouest-Africaine de Développement, Sidi Ould Tah – Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.
Trade Finance Awards: Access Bank, Nigeria, Attijariwafa Bank (AWB) Group, Bank of Africa (BOA/BMCE) Group, Diamond Trust Bank, Kenya and First Bank Nigeria (FBN).
Fintech of the Year: EFG Hermes Holding Val, Flutterwave, Inclusivity Solutions, JUMO, ProfitShare Partners, Yabx Technologies.
SME Bank of the Year: Co-operative Bank of Kenya, East African Development Bank, Ecobank, National Bank of Commerce, Uganda Development Bank Limited among other numerous awards.