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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).


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

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

    Banker of the Year

  1. Abdulmajid Mussa Nsekela – CRDB Bank Plc.
  2. Jeremy Awori – Ecobank
  3. Karim Awad - EFG Holding
  4. Léon Konan Koffi – AFG Holding
  5. Mukwandi Chibesakunda – Zanaco Inc.
  6. Patricia Ojangole – Uganda Development Bank
  7. Sidi Ould Tah - Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa

    Bank of the Year

  1. Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB)
  2. Ecobank
  3. First Bank of Nigeria Limited
  4. Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB Group Plc.)
  5. Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB Ltd.)
  6. Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group)
  7. Coris Bank International

    Sustainable Bank of the Year - Sponsored by 4G Capital

  1. Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB)
  2. CRDB Bank Plc.
  3. Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB Group Plc.)
  4. Nedbank
  5. Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group)

    DFI of the Year

  1. African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
  2. African Trade Insurance Agency
  3. Bank of Industry
  4. Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement (BOAD)
  5. ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)
  6. Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB)
  7. Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group)

    Fintech of the Year

  1. 4G Capital
  2. Inclusivity Solutions
  3. Network International
  4. Oze
  5. ProfitShare Partners
  6. Valu

    SME Bank of the Year

  1. Co-operative Bank of Kenya Ltd.
  2. CRDB Bank Plc
  3. EcobanK
  4. Standard Bank
  5. Uganda Development Bank

    Deal of the Year - Debt

  1. US$119m Green, Social and Sustainable Development Bond - ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)
  2. US$2.05 Billion Bank of Industry - 2024 Facility - Afreximbank/Africa Finance Corporation/ Bank of Industry
  3. US$394 MM ETC Group (Mauritius), Inaugural Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL) - Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group)
  4. US$13 Billion Ghana’s Eurobond Debt Restructuring - Hogan Lovells
  5. US$18 MM Letshego Holdings Namibia Limited Social Bond - Rand Merchant Bank(RMB)
  6. Republic of Benin €507.5 facility - African Trade Insurance Agency
  7. Sahara Group's US$500 MM Debt Sub-Participation Financing - Africa Finance Corporation
  8. US$ 590 MM - The Egyptian Chemical Industries Company (KIMA) - National Bank of Egypt

    Deal of the Year - Equity

  1. Aradel Holdings’ US$2 Billion Listing by Introduction on Nigerian Exchange Limited - Standard Bank
  2. Boxer’s US$470 MM Initial Public Offering (IPO) - Absa Bank Ltd., Standard Bank
  3. FQM's US$1.15 Billion Bought Deal on the Toronto Stock Exchange- Absa Bank Ltd.
  4. Nigerian Breweries’ US$352 MM Rights Issue - Standard Bank
  5. Renaissance Acquisition of Shell- US$2.4 Billion - PwC Nigeria

    Infrastructure Deal of the Year

  1. US$83.35 MM (EGP 4.235 Billion) Al Zahy Group For General Contracting (Ahmed El Zzahy & Co.) - National Bank of Egypt
  2. US$646.64 MM (ZAR 12 Billion) Envusa Energy - Absa Bank Ltd. / Rand Merchant Bank
  3. US$1.9 Billion Kano Maradi Railway Project - Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) / African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
  4. Project Platinum - US$200 MM Dividends Backed Capital Raise by BUA Industries Limited - Africa Finance Corporation
  5. US$188.62 MM (ZAR 3.5 Billion) Scatec Mogobe Battery Energy Storage System - Standard Bank
  6. US$1.04 Billion Suez 1.1 GW Wind Power Project in Egypt: Powering Africa's Renewable Future - African Development Bank
  7. US$1.20 Billion (ZAR 22.25 Billion) Mokolo Crocodile River Water Augmentation - Standard Bank

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