The
African Banker
African
Banker
Awards
Compete. Celebrate. Connect.
Deadline for submissions: March 14th, 2025
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
African Bank of the Year
Institutions with capital below $350m
African Bank of the Year
Institutions with capital between $350m and $700m
African Bank of the Year
Institutions with capital above $700m
DFI of the Year
Awarding a Development Finance Institution that has played a pivotal role in supporting economic development and infrastructure projects across Africa.
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.
Sustainable Bank of the Year
Honouring a bank that has made significant strides in promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility within its and services.
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.
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
- Admassu Tadesse - Trade and Development Bank
- Anel Bosman - Nedbank
- Karim Awad - EFG Holding
- Miriam Olusanya - Guaranty Trust Bank
- Patricia Ojangole - Uganda Development Bank
- Serge Ekue - Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement
- Sidi Ould Tah - Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
Banker of the Year
- Afreximbank
- Ecobank
- KCB Group
- Rawbank
- Trade and Development Bank Group
- Uganda Development Bank
- United Bank for Africa
Bank of the Year
- Absa Bank
- East African Development Bank
- Ecobank
- Nedbank CIB
- Standard Bank Group
- Trade and Development Bank Group
Sustainable Bank of the Year
- Afreximbank
- Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement
- East African Development Bank
- Kenya Development Corporation
- Trade and Development Bank Group
DFI of the Year
- Valu
- Flutterwave
- Inclusivity Solutions
- JUMO
- ProfitShare Partners
- Yabx Technologies
Fintech of the Year
- Co-operative Bank of Kenya
- East African Development Bank
- Ecobank
- National Bank of Commerce
- Uganda Development Bank Limited
SME Bank of the Year
- 2 tranches valued at TZS 212bn and USD 73mn respectively - Absa - NMB Bank - Absa Bank Ltd
- $117 million The Globeleq Menengai Geothermal Power Project in Kenya - African Development Bank
- $1.82bn Project KaMa - Africa Finance Corporation
- $500m Brighter Life Securitization - African Frontier Capital
- $16bn Ghana Debt Restructuring - Hogan Lovells
- €774m Project Strada - UKEF backed loan to support FERA and the Republic of Senegal in its nation-wide road programme - MUFG Bank
- $775m Foschini Group Syndicated Funding Package - Standard Bank
Deal of the Year - Debt
- $500m Airtel Uganda IPO - Absa Bank
- $100m BOAD Hybrid Bond - Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement
- $145m Affirma Capital Limited's acquisition of Copperbelt Energy Corporation - Pangaea Securities
- $1.1bn investment into Mopani Copper Mines plc by International Resources Holding RSC - Rothschild
- $200 million Meridiam's acquisition of controlling stake in Kipeto - Standard Bank
Deal of the Year - Equity
- Volcafe Limited $80m East Africa Borrowing Base Facility - Absa Bank
- Co-op Bank & Kenya Coffee Direct Settlement System - Co-operative Bank of Kenya
- $400m Evergrow For Specialized Fertilizers - National Bank of Egypt
- $692m Ghana Cocoa Board Pre-export Receivables Backed Trade Finance Facility - Standard Chartered
Agriculture Deal of the Year
- $203m Great Horn Investments Holding “GHIH” - African Export-Import Bank
- $1.762bn (of which $363m is the commercial tranche) Tanzania Railways, Government of Tanzania - African Export-Import Bank/Standard Chartered
- €350m Benin Project IROKO - African Trade Insurance Agency
- $352.4m Fiber Misr for Telecommunications & Information Technology (Benya Technologies) - Banque Misr
- $15bn Simandou mining and infrastructure project - Hogan Lovells
- $38m InfraCredit's Guarantee of Lagos Free Zone Issuance Fixed Rate Infrastructure Bonds - InfraCredit
- $461m Sukuk Issuance for construction and rehabilitation of critical road infrastructure - Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited
Infrastructure Deal of the Year
- Access Bank Nigeria
- Attijariwafa Bank (AWB) Group
- Bank of Africa (BOA/BMCE) Group
- Diamond Trust Bank Kenya
- First Bank Nigeria (FBN)
Trade Finance Award
- Centenary Rural Development Bank
- EQUITY BCDC
- Fin'ELLE
- RAWBANK
- Stanbic Bank Kenya