Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, Managing Director of Nigeria’s Guaranty Trust Bank, has emerged the 2012 African Banker of the year.
The award was bestowed on Mr. Agbaje at the 6th edition of the African Banker Awards, held on the sidelines of the ongoing Annual General Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Arusha, Tanzania.
He was presented with his Trophy by Tim Turner, Director of the Private Sector Operations of the AfDB.
In another category, Ecobank beat tough competition posed by six other contestants in its category to come out on top as African Bank of the Year.
The Bank was given particular credit for its continued expansion throughout Africa as the pan African bank. Ecobank got a strong endorsement when South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation officially signed the US$250m investment agreement in the Group.
The African Banker Awards are organised by African Banker magazine, IC Events and BusinessinAfrica Events, and celebrates excellence and best practices in African banking and finance.
Commenting on the ceremony, Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker, said “We have recognised some superb individuals and institutions tonight. Africa’s financial sector is a major vehicle for driving the economic growth that has become the talk of the investor community around the world.”
Following are all the winners at of the various awards:
African Bank of the Year: Ecobank (ETI), Togo
African Banker of the Year: Olusegun Agbaje, Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria
Best Regional Bank in Africa: Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco (North Africa); BGFI, Gabon (Central Africa);
Bank of Kigali, Rwanda (East Africa); Access Bank, Nigeria (West Africa); BCI, Mozambique (Southern Africa).
Investment Bank of the Year: Renaissance Capital
Award for Innovation in Banking: Equity Bank, Kenya
Socially Responsible Bank of the Year: BMCE Bank Group, Morocco
Award for Financial Inclusion: Groupe Banque Populaire, Morocco
Deal of the Year: Jinchuan’s Acquisition of Metorex – Standard Bank Group
Best Bond Deal: Republic of Senegal: Sovereign Bond Issue – Standard Chartered Bank
Investment Fund/Private Equity Fund of the Year: Citadel Capital, Egypt
Best Retail Bank in Africa: Coris Bank International, Burkina Faso
Central Bank Governor of the Year: Mustapha Kamel Nabli, Central Bank Governor, Tunisia
Finance Minister of the Year: Kerfalla Yansané, Minister of Finance, Guinea
Lifetime Achievement Award: Arnold Ekpe
African Banker Icon: Dr Eleni Gabre-Mahdin, Founder and CEO, Ethiopia Commodities Exchange
