- The African Banker has announced the shortlist for its annual awards to be held on the 6th October 2009 at the Four Seasons Hotel during the World Bank/IMF annual meetings in Istanbul, Turkey.
Supported by the African Development Bank the African Banker Awards recognise and reward individuals, companies and institutions which have excelled in Africa’s banking and financial sector over the last year. Twice as many entries have been received compared to previous years making this year’s African Banker Awards a fiercely contested competition, according to the organisers of the awards.
Nominees for this year include the Arab African International Bank (Egypt); Banco Angolano de Investimentos (Angola); Banque Marocaine du Commerce Extérieur (Morocco); Ecobank Group (Togo); First Bank of Nigeria and United Bank for Africa (Nigeria) and are all up for the much prized category African Bank of the Year.
The other sought after award is African Banker of the Year. The nominees include Tayo Aderinokun, (MD/CEO, GTB Nigeria), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, )CEO/MD, Access Bank, Nigeria); Bashir Awale (MD, Stanbic Bank, Tanzania); James Mwangi (CEO, Equity Bank, Kenya); Martin Oduor-Otieno (Group CEO, Kenya Commercial Bank).
Five of the other awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Finance Minister of the Year, Central Bank Governor of the Year, Best Development Bank in Africa and Best Global Bank in Africa will be chosen by the editorial committee of the African Banker Awards.
According to the organisers, the regional spread of participating companies is a lot wider this year, adding that Nigerian and South African banks are once again well represented but a rising number of banks from other countries, including Angola, Chad, Ghana, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia have all excelled allowing them to make the final shortlist.
Commenting on the nominations, Anver Versi, Editor of African Banker magazine said “The volume of submissions demonstrates how seriously banks are going about their business, not only in terms of expansion but also CSR activities, capacity building, recruitment and bringing world class practices to their industry. Banks are playing a critical role in raising expectations of what businesses can and should be achieving in Africa.”
Afif Ben Yedder, Publisher of the African Banker magazine also underlined the importance of recognising excellence in African banking and finance: “The African Banker Awards have now become a major event during the World Bank/IMF annual meetings. It is a great occasion to celebrate the successes of African bankers and achievements of the financial institutions of the continent.”
On the nominees he commented: “They are among the best African bankers and banks in the continent. They include all the major players in the financial sector as well as the ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors.”
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