Women dominate African Banker 2020 Awards
The 2020 edition of the African Banker Awards was different for a number of reasons, not least for its greater recognition of institutions that put financial inclusion at the forefront of their agenda
This year’s African Banker Awards had a different feel due to restrictions imposed by Covid-19, but the virtual presentation lost none of its usual excitement. The ceremony was also notable for the increased number of women taking the top awards and the addition of categories reflecting the African Development Bank’s High Fives agenda.
Nigeria-based Access Bank group has delivered an astonishing record of growth and took some of the event’s most coveted awards. Following its merger with Diamond Bank, Access is the largest bank in Nigeria and set to become one of the largest on the continent. Its acquisition of Kenya’s Transnational Bank last year considerably expanded its continental footprint and positioned it for further expansion. Much of that has come under the outstanding leadership of its CEO, Herbert Wigwe, who won African Banker of the Year.
Access Bank also won Agriculture Deal of the Year for supporting Olam’s development of rice operations in Nigeria. Women were big winners. Central Bank Governor of the Year went to Caroline Abel, from the Seychelles, and Finance Minister of the Year went to Nigeria’s Zainab Ahmed. The African Banker Icon was won by Vivien Shobo, CEO of Agusto & Co until last December. She was recognised for her outstanding role in developing Nigeria’s credit markets.
Tunisian pioneer Ahmed Abdelkefi won the Lifetime Achievement award. The founder of numerous businesses in leasing, brokerage and investment banking, he founded private equity group Tuninvest, and then launched Africinvest.
TDB Bank secured the Bank of the Year ( see interview p52-53). A number of new awards reflected the AfDB’s High Fives Agenda. Energy Deal of the Year went to Nedbank; the Infrastructure Deal of the Year went to the Port of Maputo in a transaction led by Standard Bank and the SME Bank of the Year went to Nigeria’s Bank of Industry ( see interview, p56-57).
Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker magazine said: “Banks will have to play a lead role in kickstarting post-Covid growth and sustaining the real economy. To quote our Lifetime Achievement Winner: ‘Keep moving forward: adapt, innovate, take risks.’”
The awards, held under the high patronage of the African Development Bank, are sponsored by the African Guarantee Fund as Platinum Sponsor, the Bank of Industry as Gold Sponsor and Moza Banco as Associate Sponsor. ■
The 2020 African Banker Award Winners
African Banker of the Year
Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ahmed Abdelkefi, Founder Tunisie Leasing; Tuninvest; Tunisie Valeurs
African Banker Icon
Vivien Shobo, Former CEO Agusto & Co
African Bank of the Year
Trade and Development Bank (TDB)
Minister of Finance of the Year
Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance of Nigeria
Central Bank Governor of the Year
Caroline Abel, Central Bank Governor of Seychelles
Investment Bank of the Year
Citi
Award for Financial Inclusion
Kenya Women Microfinance
SME Bank of the Year
Bank of Industry, Nigeria
Socially Responsible Bank of the Year
Equity Bank, Kenya
Innovation in Banking
Ecobank
Deal of the Year – Equity
MTN Nigeria IPO - Chapel Hill Denham
Deal of the Year – Debt
Bank of Industry €1bn syndicated senior loan facility - Bank of Industry / Afreximbank / Credit Suisse
Infrastructure Deal of the Year
Port of Maputo - Standard Bank
Energy Project of the Year
Renewable Energy Bond - Nedbank
Agri Deal of the Year
Olam Rice Farm - Access Bank
Regional Bank of the Year
East Africa – Equity Bank West Africa – Coris North Africa – CIB, Egypt Southern Africa – Moza Banco Central Africa – BGFI, Gabon