Olayemi Cardoso, governor, Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN) has been named central financial institution governor of the 12 months by African Banker journal.

The award, introduced on the 2025 African Banker Awards at a gala ceremony in Abidjan on Wednesday was in recognition of Cardoso’s sweeping reforms geared toward stabilising the naira, restoring investor confidence, and reasserting financial coverage credibility in Africa’s most populous economic system.

Throughout the occasion, African Banker journal, praised Cardoso’s “daring and strategic” method since assuming management of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN).

Learn additionally: Nigeria’s reforms recognised as African Banker names Cardoso CBN governor of the 12 months 

Beneath his tenure, the financial institution has moved aggressively to enhance transparency within the overseas alternate market and recalibrate Nigeria’s macroeconomic path after a chronic interval of volatility.

“The award displays the Committee’s recognition of Governor Cardoso’s current achievements and the Central Financial institution’s essential position in addressing market imbalances and repositioning the Nigerian economic system for sustainable development,” the organisers mentioned in an announcement.

The popularity comes as Nigeria pushes to reverse years of foreign money instability and dwindling investor belief, with Cardoso prioritising FX market reforms, inflation focusing on, and improved central financial institution independence.

These efforts, the Awards committee famous, have laid “the groundwork for long-term macroeconomic resilience and and renewed investor confidence.”

Now in its nineteenth 12 months, the African Banker Awards—hosted in partnership with the African Improvement Financial institution Group—deliver collectively the continent’s monetary leaders to highlight excellence in banking and financial governance.