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By Adedapo Adesanya
The African Banker Awards 2023 Gala Ceremony, probably the most prestigious occasion within the African banking calendar, passed off final night time on the Rixos Resort in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on the sidelines of the African Improvement Financial institution Annual Conferences and noticed African Export-Import Financial institution (Afreximbank) successful two awards.
The ceremony was attended by over 300 of the continent’s main bankers, regulators, and policymakers.
Now in its seventeenth version, the African Banker Awards rejoice the achievements of people and establishments which have contributed considerably to the expansion and improvement of Africa’s banking sector over the previous yr.
The highest spotlight of the ceremony was Ms Esther Kariuki changing into the second lady to win the African Banker of the 12 months Award. The Head of Agriculture Enterprise on the Co-op Financial institution of Kenya has been a central determine in advancing agriculture as a key asset class for her establishment.
She was additionally answerable for significantly growing lending to the agriculture sector and oversaw the roll-out of the platform Co-op Financial institution Soko, a digital market that connects the agriculture worth chain and ensures, amongst different issues, that small-holder farmers obtain the next value for his or her produce.
Afreximbank received two prestigious awards in Sharm El Sheikh in recognition of its rising management inside Africa’s monetary companies sector. The Cairo-based establishment was celebrated as each African Financial institution of the 12 months and Improvement Monetary Establishment of the 12 months, making it the only establishment to win multiple award throughout this yr’s ceremony.
Mauritius’ Mr Harvesh Seegolam wins Central Financial institution Governor of the 12 months. The youngest ever serving governor of Mauritius Central Financial institution was appointed on the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He leveraged Mauritius Funding Company (MIC) to offer crucial monetary assist to key sectors of the financial system by investing in non-public sector operators. Its newest returns report demonstrated that the investments made via the MIC have elevated in worth, regardless of the difficult financial circumstances confronted.
South African banks swept most of the Deal of the 12 months classes. South Africa’s Mr Enoch Godongwana received the Minister of Finance of the 12 months Award. He was recognised for his steadfast administration of the financial system as finance minister in addition to the work he has executed to encourage funding to speed up the vitality transition.
Nigeria was additionally within the highlight as Letshego Nigeria took the inaugural AFAWA Financial institution of the 12 months Award, a class spotlighting monetary establishments empowering feminine entrepreneurs throughout the continent.
The Affirmative Finance Motion for Girls in Africa (AFAWA) is a pan-African initiative to bridge the $42 billion financing hole dealing with ladies in Africa.
The African Banker Icon was received by veteran dealmaker, Mr Miguel Azevedo, head of funding banking for sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa at Citi. The lifetime achievement award went to a different veteran banker, Mr Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, former Managing Director and present Non-executive Chairman of CIB Financial institution, Egypt’s largest non-public sector financial institution.
Talking on the occasion, Mr mentioned Omar Ben Yedder, Committee Chairman and Group Writer at IC Publications, publishers of African Banker, mentioned this yr’s award ceremony is a testomony not solely to the vibrancy and dynamism of Africa’s banking trade but additionally its growing variety.
“The monetary companies trade continues to reveal excellence, innovation and influence of their respective markets and areas.
“FinTech, Local weather Finance, and Cross-Border funds are all being formed by the leaders we’re recognising in the present day.”
The ceremony is organised by African Banker journal, with the African Improvement Financial institution as its Excessive Patron. This yr’s AfDB Conferences centered on mobilising non-public sector finance in the direction of inexperienced development. The 2023 version was sponsored by the African Assure Fund, the Commerce and Improvement Financial institution (TDB) and Tanzania’s CRDB Financial institution.
Full listing of winners:
Banker of the 12 months
Ms Esther Kariuki, Co-operative Financial institution of Kenya
Financial institution of the 12 months
Afreximbank
African Banker Icon
Mr Miguel Azevedo, Citi
Lifetime Achievement
Mr Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, Business Worldwide Financial institution
Central Financial institution Governor of the 12 months
Mr Harvesh Seegolam, Financial institution of Mauritius
Minister of Finance of the 12 months
Mr Enoch Godongwana, South Africa
Sustainable Financial institution of the 12 months
Nedbank, South Africa
DFI of the 12 months
Afreximbank
Fintech of the 12 months
MFS Africa
SME Financial institution of the 12 months
La Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations – CDC
Deal of the 12 months – Debt
Concord Gold Firm syndicated multi-tranche, multi-currency, mortgage facility of $400m and R4bn – Absa & Nedbank
Deal of the 12 months – Fairness
$298m Infinity Vitality fairness funding and Lekela Energy acquisition – Africa Finance Company
Deal of the 12 months – Agriculture
$78m funding facility for the Southern Oil Structured Commodity Finance Transaction – Absa
Deal of the 12 months – Infrastructure
$900m debt funding facility for Scatec Photo voltaic PV plus Battery Storage Venture – Customary Financial institution
Regional Financial institution of the 12 months – North
Financial institution of Africa
Regional Financial institution of the 12 months – Southern
Zambia Nationwide Business Financial institution (Zanaco)
Regional Financial institution of the 12 months – East
CRDB Financial institution
Regional Financial institution of the 12 months – Central
Belief Service provider Financial institution
Regional Financial institution of the 12 months – West
Vista Financial institution
AFAWA Financial institution of the 12 months Award
Letshego, Nigeria
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