Guarantee Trust Bank Nigeria scooped the prize for African Bank of the Year at the biggest African Banker Awards ceremony to date. Michael Miebach, President, Middle East and Africa for MasterCard, the Platinum sponsor of the event presented them with the Award at the close of the ceremony of which the guests included HE Regis Immongault, Minister of Mines for Gabon and Senegalese R&B and hip hop recording artist Akon.
The High Patron of the Awards, the African Development Bank, was represented by the President of the bank himself Donald Kaberuka with opening remarks given by the head of the private sector operations, Tim Turner. Hon. Nizar Baraka of Morocco was declared Minister of Finance of the Year on home soil for his achievements in the past year including the $1.5bn dollar issuance and prudent economic reforms. Nigeria yet again had a strong presence on the winners and H.E. Sanusi Lanido Sanusi was awarded the award for Central Bank Governor in his last year in office.
Two bankers were recognised in the African Banker of the year category: Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede GMD and CEO of Access Bank, and Joao Figueiredo Chairman and CEO of Banco Unico who was given an award for Outstanding Performance and Bold leadership. South Africa performed particularly strongly in the Investment banking division with Rand Merchant Bank scooping Investment bank of the year and Standard Bank wining the fixed income and deal of the year categories.
Guests were treated to a star-studded cast of performances at the ceremony that took place during the African Development Bank Annual Meetings at the Taj Palace Marrakech. Grammy Award winner John Legend, legendary Senegalese singer and politician Youssou N’Dour, and American MC and actor Mos Def wowed guests in between the awards presentations.
Michael Joseph, renowned for bringing the mobile banking innovation, M-Pesa, to international recognition and Jean-Louis Ekra, President of Afreximbank, and, were also amongst individual winners. They won the African Banker Icon and Lifetime Achievement Award respectively.
Supporting Partner, Made in Africa Foundation, lead by the Ghanaian fashion designer Ozwald Boateng, had more surprises in store with a live fashion show.
Commenting on the ceremony, Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker said “Once again it has been a night where some of the exemplary leaders we have on this continent have been rewarded for groundbreaking work. It should be noted that the work is far from finished and banks and policy-makers need to continue to work together to create the instruments to reach out to the real economy of people for whom many of the products and services are out of reach.
The African Banker Awards are organised by African Banker magazine, IC Events and BusinessinAfrica Events. It is a landmark event that celebrates excellence and best practices in African banking and finance.
Mastercard is the Platinum sponsor for this year’s African Banker Awards with the Made in Africa Foundation as the Supporting Partner. Other sponsors and partners include Banque Atlantique (Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire), Banco de Poupança e Crédito, Bank of Industry, Coris Bank, BGFI Bank, Ecobank Nedbank Alliance, FirstBank, La Congolaise de Banque and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.
Winners
African Bank of the Year
Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria
African Banker of the Year
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, GMD and Chief Executive, Access Bank
Joao Figueiredo, CEO and Chairman, Unico Bank (Award for outstanding performance and bold leadership)
Central Bank Governor of the Year
H.E. Sanusi Lanido Sanusi, Nigeria
Finance Minister of the Year
HE. Nizar Baraka, Morocco
Lifetime Achievement Award
Jean-Louis Ekra, President, Afreximbank
African Banker Icon
Michael Joseph, former CEO Safaricom and founder of M-Pesa
Best Bank in North Africa
Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco
Best Bank in Southern Africa
Afrasia Bank, Mauritius
Best Bank in West Africa
FirstBank Nigeria
Best Bank in East Africa
Equity Bank, Kenya
Best Bank in Central Africa
BGFI, Gabon
Investment Bank of the Year
Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa
Award for Innovation in Banking
Ecobank Transnational, Togo
Socially Responsible Bank of the Year
Nedbank, South Africa
Award for Financial Inclusion
Africa Guarantee Fund, Kenya
Fixed Income Deal of the Year
Ghana Seawater Desalination Project – Standard Bank, South Africa
Deal of the Year
Umeme IPO – cfc Stanbic (Kenya) and Fieldstone (South Africa)
Private Equity Fund of the Year
Citadel Capital, Egypt
Best Retail Bank in Africa
Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire, Morocco
Best Islamic Finance Initiative
Gulf African Bank, Kenya
Mortgage Bank of the Year
THUIF, South Africa
Brokerage House of the Year
African Alliance, Kenya
