Nigeria’s reforms have been recognised via an award to Yemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN) by the African Banker Awards 2025.

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“Olayemi Cardoso from Nigeria was named Central Financial institution Governor of the Yr. The Central Financial institution has needed to make robust selections however these, the organisers famous, have assuaged markets, renewing investor confidence,” a press release from the African Banker mentioned.

Growth Finance Establishments (DFIs) emerged as the massive winners at Africa’s most prestigious annual banking occasion. 5 DFIs took house plaques on the African Banker Awards Gala Ceremony 2025 held final night time on the Sofitel Lodge in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on the sidelines of the African Growth Financial institution Annual Conferences. The ceremony was attended by 500 of the continent’s main lights in banking and finance.

The African Banker Awards 2025, now in its nineteenth yr, have a good time the achievements of people and establishments that contributed considerably to the expansion and improvement of Africa’s banking sector within the previous yr. This yr’s awards ceremony, particularly, noticed DFIs dominate, underlining their growing recognition, significance and impression within the African monetary and banking ecosystem as they crank up the levers of improvement and development.

Morocco has been a standout performer in Africa, particularly with regards to financial diversification. Nadia Fettah was recognised as Finance Minister of the Yr for her sound macroeconomic administration.

Vincent Nmehielle, Secretary Basic of the African Growth Financial institution, paid tribute to IC Publications and New African journal particularly for representing the voice of Africa internationally when again in 2007 it was the one journal presenting an African perspective to worldwide affairs.

Talking on the ceremony, Omar Ben Yedder, chair of the Awards Committee, recognized the personal sector and banks as crucial to remodeling the continent. “Thomas Sankara mentioned those that feed you, rule you. To paraphrase him, we might simply say those that finance you, rule you. We’d like robust African-owned banks. The personal sector is the important thing to unlocking scale, and banks are the gas for driving Africa ahead. African DFIs have gained massive due to the catalytic function they’re enjoying in reworking the funding panorama in addition to working extra carefully with the African personal sector to help SMEs and different asset lessons which might be underfunded.”

This yr’s awards had a particular visitor, Ivorian sprinter and silver medallist Murielle Ahouré-Demps, a a number of medal winner at world occasions. Presenting the African Banker of the Yr award, she shared how she “discovered that champions are usually not made on the rostrum. They’re solid within the quiet, unseen moments within the self-discipline it takes when nobody is watching. And as African ladies, we stock inside us a robust legacy: one among power, of knowledge, and of imaginative and prescient. I’m deeply happy with that.” The award was gained by Patricia Ojangole, managing director of Ugandan Growth Financial institution, the second time in three years, a girl banker from East Africa has gained the coveted award.

Ecobank gained this yr’s AFAWA Awards, which recognise gender lens lending and banks supporting women-led companies. Beth Dunford of the African Growth Financial institution leads on the initiative.

The Awards are supported by the African Growth Financial institution and several other high-level sponsors such because the African Assure Fund. A cocktail reception occurred earlier than the Gala sponsored by African Commerce and Funding Growth Insurance coverage (ATIDI). Afreximbank, the ECOWAS Financial institution for Funding and Growth (EBID), Atlantic Finance Group, Nigeria’s Financial institution of Business, The African Assure and Financial Cooperation Fund (FAGACE), 4G Capital, IFG Government Training and African Hidden Champions had been additionally sponsors and supporters of the Awards.