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African Bankers 2009 Award: Nigeria Shows Class, Strength
- By Alex Ekemenah
- Published October 13th, 2009
- BrandWorld
- Unrated
EVEN in the face of a billow seemingly beclouding the Nigerian banking industry - orchestrating doubt and pessimism on the Nigerian economy - Banks and bankers in the country have demonstrated class and strength as they gallop to win two most prestigious rewards of the Bankers Award 2009 edition. This was announced within the week as Africa’s top bankers, ministers of finance, governors of central banks and industry leaders came together at the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, to recognize the continent’s successes in banking at an unforgettable awards ceremony and gala dinne
Bankers from Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Angola, South Africa, Togo, Ghana, Mali and Chad, representing North, South, East, West and Central Africa, were amongst the nominees of this year’s African Banker Awards making this truly a pan-African gathering of champions.
A total of 14 awards were presented during the ceremony. The African Banker of the Year award went to Tayo Aderinokun, Managing Director/CEO, GTB Nigeria, the African Bank of the Year award went to Ecobank-ETI. The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to a pioneer of African banking, Paul Derreumaux, the President of the Mali-based Group Bank of Africa, whose outstanding achievements in banking have contributed to Africa’s substantial economic transformation. The award for Finance Minister of the Year was handed to Dr. Youssef Boutros-Ghali, Minister of Finance, Egypt and Tito Mboweni, Governor, South African Reserve Bank was named Central Bank Governor of the Year.
Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker magazine, commented: “African banking and financial institutions have not come unscathed by the global financial and economical crisis. But as they say luck favours the prepared. Whereas banks and financial institutions of yesteryears in Africa would have previously yielded and vanished in such turmoil, the banks of today with stronger capital bases and stronger regulatory bodies have suffered severe challenges, but on the whole managed to withstand these external shocks. This is undoubtedly through strong leadership, vision and sustained reform undertaken by many of the winners and nominees present here today.”
Anver Versi, Editor of African Banker magazine highlighted the potential of Africa: “When all 53 African countries, with all our cultural heritage, with our natural resources, with our populations and with our genius can act as one and speak with one voice, when, as in Istanbul, we can discover unity in our diversity, then the world will see the rise of a power that could become the greatest of all.” On the continent’s banking landscape he commented: “African banking, over the past five years has not only broken its national and regional shackles, it has also broken international boundaries and has taken its first tentative steps outside the continent.”
This year’s event, organised by African Banker magazine and IC Events in partnership with BusinessinAfrica Events, was supported by the African Development Bank in line with its commitment to build a strong and vibrant African banking industry. Sponsors included Ecobank, Lexmark International, Inc. and Centigon. The Awards were held during the World Bank’s critical global discussions on the state of the world’s financial systems which were held this year in Istanbul, Turkey.
Bankers from Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Angola, South Africa, Togo, Ghana, Mali and Chad, representing North, South, East, West and Central Africa, were amongst the nominees of this year’s African Banker Awards making this truly a pan-African gathering of champions.
A total of 14 awards were presented during the ceremony. The African Banker of the Year award went to Tayo Aderinokun, Managing Director/CEO, GTB Nigeria, the African Bank of the Year award went to Ecobank-ETI. The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to a pioneer of African banking, Paul Derreumaux, the President of the Mali-based Group Bank of Africa, whose outstanding achievements in banking have contributed to Africa’s substantial economic transformation. The award for Finance Minister of the Year was handed to Dr. Youssef Boutros-Ghali, Minister of Finance, Egypt and Tito Mboweni, Governor, South African Reserve Bank was named Central Bank Governor of the Year.
Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker magazine, commented: “African banking and financial institutions have not come unscathed by the global financial and economical crisis. But as they say luck favours the prepared. Whereas banks and financial institutions of yesteryears in Africa would have previously yielded and vanished in such turmoil, the banks of today with stronger capital bases and stronger regulatory bodies have suffered severe challenges, but on the whole managed to withstand these external shocks. This is undoubtedly through strong leadership, vision and sustained reform undertaken by many of the winners and nominees present here today.”
Anver Versi, Editor of African Banker magazine highlighted the potential of Africa: “When all 53 African countries, with all our cultural heritage, with our natural resources, with our populations and with our genius can act as one and speak with one voice, when, as in Istanbul, we can discover unity in our diversity, then the world will see the rise of a power that could become the greatest of all.” On the continent’s banking landscape he commented: “African banking, over the past five years has not only broken its national and regional shackles, it has also broken international boundaries and has taken its first tentative steps outside the continent.”
This year’s event, organised by African Banker magazine and IC Events in partnership with BusinessinAfrica Events, was supported by the African Development Bank in line with its commitment to build a strong and vibrant African banking industry. Sponsors included Ecobank, Lexmark International, Inc. and Centigon. The Awards were held during the World Bank’s critical global discussions on the state of the world’s financial systems which were held this year in Istanbul, Turkey.
