The
African Banker
African
Banker
Awards
Compete. Celebrate. Connect.
Celebrating excellence and best practices in African banking.
A landmark annual banking event
The African Banker Awards are designed to recognise the reforms, rapid modernisation, consolidation, integration and expansion of Africa's banking and financial system. The 2025 Awards Ceremony will take place in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire on Wednesday 28th May, during the African Development Bank Annual Meetings (May 26 to May 30, 2025).
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About the awards
The African Banker Awards are a landmark annual event for African banking taking place during the annual meetings of the African Development Bank. Organised by African Banker magazine under the high patronage of the African Development Bank, the African Banker Awards celebrate excellence and best practices in African banking.
Recognising the personalities and banks that are driving Africa's rapidly transforming financial sector, the African Banker Awards bring together industry leaders from Africa and the world. They celebrate the achievements of those who are driving growth and development and creating new economic opportunities for citizens and communities all over the continent and inspire new generations of bankers who are shaping Africa's future.
Wednesday 28th May 2025
Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire, Côte d'Ivoire
The awards categories
African Banker of the Year
Celebrating an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in the African banking sector over the past year
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African Bank of the Year
Institutions with capital below $350m
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African Bank of the Year
Institutions with capital between $350m and $700m
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African Bank of the Year
Institutions with capital above $700m
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DFI of the Year
Awarding a Development Finance Institution that has played a pivotal role in supporting economic development and infrastructure projects across Africa.
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FinTech of the Year Award
Highlighting a fintech company that has introduced groundbreaking technology and innovative solutions to enhance financial inclusion and services in Africa.
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Sustainable Bank of the Year - Sponsored by 4G Capital
Honouring a bank that has made significant strides in promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility within its and services.
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SME Bank of the Year
Acknowledging a bank that has excelled in providing support, financing, and tailored services to small and medium-sized enterprises, fostering entrepreneurship and growth.
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Infrastructure Deal of the Year
This award will go the deal which has had the most significant impact and exceptional achievements in infrastructure development projects across the continent.
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Deal of the Year - Equity
This award will go to the deal which has had the most significant impact. The committee will take into consideration the complexity of the deal, its size and the groundbreaking role it may have played.
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Deal of the Year - Debt
This award will go the deal which has had the most significant impact. The committee will take into consideration the complexity of the deal, its size and the groundbreaking role it may have played.
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The awards judges
Frannie Leautier
Partner, CEO - SouthBridge Investment
Rebecca Enonchong
CEO - Appstech
Zemedeneh Negatu
Global Chairman - Fairfax Africa Fund
Tom Minney
Editor - African Council Markets News
Toyin F Sanni
GCEO - Emerging Africa Capital
Jean-Louis Ekra
Board Member - British Globeleq Group
Vivien Shobo
CEO - FVS Advisory Partners
Alain le Noir
Co Founder - Club des banques et établissements financiers africains
2025 Nominees
- Abdulmajid Mussa Nsekela – CRDB Bank Plc.
- Jeremy Awori – Ecobank
- Karim Awad - EFG Holding
- Léon Konan Koffi – AFG Holding
- Mukwandi Chibesakunda – Zanaco Inc.
- Patricia Ojangole – Uganda Development Bank
- Sidi Ould Tah - Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
Banker of the Year
- Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB)
- Ecobank
- First Bank of Nigeria Limited
- Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB Group Plc.)
- Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB Ltd.)
- Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group)
- Coris Bank International
Bank of the Year
- Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB)
- CRDB Bank Plc.
- Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB Group Plc.)
- Nedbank
- Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group)
Sustainable Bank of the Year - Sponsored by 4G Capital
- African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
- African Trade Insurance Agency
- Bank of Industry
- Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement (BOAD)
- ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)
- Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB)
- Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group)
DFI of the Year
- 4G Capital
- Inclusivity Solutions
- Network International
- Oze
- ProfitShare Partners
- Valu
Fintech of the Year
- Co-operative Bank of Kenya Ltd.
- CRDB Bank Plc
- EcobanK
- Standard Bank
- Uganda Development Bank
SME Bank of the Year
- US$119m Green, Social and Sustainable Development Bond - ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)
- US$2.05 Billion Bank of Industry - 2024 Facility - Afreximbank/Africa Finance Corporation/ Bank of Industry
- US$394 MM ETC Group (Mauritius), Inaugural Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL) - Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group)
- US$13 Billion Ghana’s Eurobond Debt Restructuring - Hogan Lovells
- US$18 MM Letshego Holdings Namibia Limited Social Bond - Rand Merchant Bank(RMB)
- Republic of Benin €507.5 facility - African Trade Insurance Agency
- Sahara Group's US$500 MM Debt Sub-Participation Financing - Africa Finance Corporation
- US$ 590 MM - The Egyptian Chemical Industries Company (KIMA) - National Bank of Egypt
Deal of the Year - Debt
- Aradel Holdings’ US$2 Billion Listing by Introduction on Nigerian Exchange Limited - Standard Bank
- Boxer’s US$470 MM Initial Public Offering (IPO) - Absa Bank Ltd., Standard Bank
- FQM's US$1.15 Billion Bought Deal on the Toronto Stock Exchange- Absa Bank Ltd.
- Nigerian Breweries’ US$352 MM Rights Issue - Standard Bank
- Renaissance Acquisition of Shell- US$2.4 Billion - PwC Nigeria
Deal of the Year - Equity
- US$83.35 MM (EGP 4.235 Billion) Al Zahy Group For General Contracting (Ahmed El Zzahy & Co.) - National Bank of Egypt
- US$646.64 MM (ZAR 12 Billion) Envusa Energy - Absa Bank Ltd. / Rand Merchant Bank
- US$1.9 Billion Kano Maradi Railway Project - Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) / African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
- Project Platinum - US$200 MM Dividends Backed Capital Raise by BUA Industries Limited - Africa Finance Corporation
- US$188.62 MM (ZAR 3.5 Billion) Scatec Mogobe Battery Energy Storage System - Standard Bank
- US$1.04 Billion Suez 1.1 GW Wind Power Project in Egypt: Powering Africa's Renewable Future - African Development Bank
- US$1.20 Billion (ZAR 22.25 Billion) Mokolo Crocodile River Water Augmentation - Standard Bank
Infrastructure Deal of the Year
2024 winners
Institutions
Bank of the Year
Afreximbank
Sustainable Bank of the Year
Standard Bank Group
DFI of the Year
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA)
Fintech of the Year
Flutterwave
SME Bank of the Year
Ecobank
AFAWA Bank of the Year
Centenary Rural Development Bank Ltd
People
Banker of the Year
Mr Admassu Tadesse
African Banker Icon
Razia Khan, Standard Chartered
Lifetime Achievement
Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede
Central Bank Governor of the Year
Dr. Kamau Thugge C.B.S., Kenya
Minister of Finance of the Year
Lipumbu Shiimi, Namibia
Regional Banks
Regional Bank of the Year - North Africa
EFG Holdings
Regional Bank of the Year - East Africa
Uganda Development Bank
Regional Bank of the Year - Central Africa
Rawbank
Regional Bank of the Year - West Africa
United Bank for Africa (UBA)
Deals
Infrastructure Deal of the Year
$363mn Tanzania Railways, Government of Tanzania - African Export-Import Bank and Standard Chartered
Deal of the Year - Debt
€774m Project Strada - UKEF backed loan to support FERA and the Republic of Senegal in its nation-wide road programme - MUFG Bank
Deal of the Year - Equity
$1.1bn investment into Mopani Copper Mines plc by International Resources Holding RSC - Rothschild & Co
Agriculture deal of the Year
$400m Evergrow For Specialized Fertilizers - National Bank of Egypt