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The

African Banker

African

Banker

Awards

Compete. Celebrate. Connect.

Attend the ceremony

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).


Would you like to learn more? Or sponsor the African Banker Awards 2025?

Contact our team for information: [email protected]

The awards sponsors

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

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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

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

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

The awards judges

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

Christopher Hartland-Peel

Principal - Hartland-Peel Africa Equity Research

2024 Nominees

    Banker of the Year

  1. Admassu Tadesse - Trade and Development Bank
  2. Anel Bosman - Nedbank
  3. Karim Awad - EFG Holding
  4. Miriam Olusanya - Guaranty Trust Bank
  5. Patricia Ojangole - Uganda Development Bank
  6. Serge Ekue - Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement
  7. Sidi Ould Tah - Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa

    Bank of the Year

  1. Afreximbank
  2. Ecobank
  3. KCB Group
  4. Rawbank
  5. Trade and Development Bank Group
  6. Uganda Development Bank
  7. United Bank for Africa

    Sustainable Bank of the Year

  1. Absa Bank
  2. East African Development Bank
  3. Ecobank
  4. Nedbank CIB
  5. Standard Bank Group
  6. Trade and Development Bank Group

    DFI of the Year

  1. Afreximbank
  2. Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement
  3. East African Development Bank
  4. Kenya Development Corporation
  5. Trade and Development Bank Group

    Fintech of the Year

  1. Valu
  2. Flutterwave
  3. Inclusivity Solutions
  4. JUMO
  5. ProfitShare Partners
  6. Yabx Technologies

    SME Bank of the Year

  1. Co-operative Bank of Kenya
  2. East African Development Bank
  3. Ecobank
  4. National Bank of Commerce
  5. Uganda Development Bank Limited

    Deal of the Year - Debt

  1. 2 tranches valued at TZS 212bn and USD 73mn respectively - Absa - NMB Bank - Absa Bank Ltd
  2. $117 million The Globeleq Menengai Geothermal Power Project in Kenya - African Development Bank
  3. $1.82bn Project KaMa - Africa Finance Corporation
  4. $500m Brighter Life Securitization - African Frontier Capital
  5. $16bn Ghana Debt Restructuring - Hogan Lovells
  6. €774m Project Strada - UKEF backed loan to support FERA and the Republic of Senegal in its nation-wide road programme - MUFG Bank
  7. $775m Foschini Group Syndicated Funding Package - Standard Bank

    Deal of the Year - Equity

  1. $500m Airtel Uganda IPO - Absa Bank
  2. $100m BOAD Hybrid Bond - Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement
  3. $145m Affirma Capital Limited's acquisition of Copperbelt Energy Corporation - Pangaea Securities
  4. $1.1bn investment into Mopani Copper Mines plc by International Resources Holding RSC - Rothschild
  5. $200 million Meridiam's acquisition of controlling stake in Kipeto - Standard Bank

    Agriculture Deal of the Year

  1. Volcafe Limited $80m East Africa Borrowing Base Facility - Absa Bank
  2. Co-op Bank & Kenya Coffee Direct Settlement System - Co-operative Bank of Kenya
  3. $400m Evergrow For Specialized Fertilizers - National Bank of Egypt
  4. $692m Ghana Cocoa Board Pre-export Receivables Backed Trade Finance Facility - Standard Chartered

    Infrastructure Deal of the Year

  1. $203m Great Horn Investments Holding “GHIH” - African Export-Import Bank
  2. $1.762bn (of which $363m is the commercial tranche) Tanzania Railways, Government of Tanzania - African Export-Import Bank/Standard Chartered
  3. €350m Benin Project IROKO - African Trade Insurance Agency
  4. $352.4m Fiber Misr for Telecommunications & Information Technology (Benya Technologies) - Banque Misr
  5. $15bn Simandou mining and infrastructure project - Hogan Lovells
  6. $38m InfraCredit's Guarantee of Lagos Free Zone Issuance Fixed Rate Infrastructure Bonds - InfraCredit
  7. $461m Sukuk Issuance for construction and rehabilitation of critical road infrastructure - Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited

    Trade Finance Award

  1. Access Bank Nigeria
  2. Attijariwafa Bank (AWB) Group
  3. Bank of Africa (BOA/BMCE) Group
  4. Diamond Trust Bank Kenya
  5. First Bank Nigeria (FBN)

    AFAWA Bank of the Year Award

  1. Centenary Rural Development Bank
  2. EQUITY BCDC
  3. Fin'ELLE
  4. RAWBANK
  5. Stanbic Bank Kenya