News Release: Afreximbank President Wins Banker Of The Year Award

Dr. Oramah with the award 

Dr. Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), was today in Ahmedabad, India, named African Banker of the Year at the African Banker Awards 2017 ceremony.


The award, presented during a ceremony on the sidelines of the Meetings of the African Development Bank, is, according to the organizers, given to a banker who, through leadership and vision, has overseen strong financial performance within his or her organization. Such a banker would also have successfully guided that institution to new heights in the industry.

In an acceptance speech, Dr. Oramah said that he was able to win the award as a result of the dedicated work of the staff of Afreximbank who have put in sustained effort and made sacrifices to enable the Bank continue performing in order to meet the challenges confronting Africa in the area of trade.

Other nominees for the award were Segun Agbaje of GTB, Nigeria; Jeremy Awori of Barclays Bank, Kenya; Dr. Charles Kimei of CRDB Bank, Tanzania; James Mwangi of Equity Bank, Kenya; and Joshua Nyamweya Olgara of KCB, Kenya.

Also today, Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria, was named the African Bank of the Year; Rameswurlall Basant Roi, Governor of the Central Bank of Mauritius, was named Central Bank Governor of the Year; and Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa, was named the Investment Bank of the Year.

Other winners include Equity Bank, Kenya, as the Best Retail Bank; MasterCard and Ecobank for Innovation in Banking; Waheed Olagunju of Bank of Industry, Nigeria, as African Banker Icon; and Amadou Ba, Minister of Finance of Senegal, as the Finance Minister of the Year.

The African Banker Awards were introduced to recognise reforms, rapid modernization and expansion of banking and finance in Africa, said the organisers. The awards reward the outstanding achievements of companies and individuals that have changed the perception of Africa’s potentials in domestic and international markets.

Nominees for the awards are shortlisted by a selection committee made up of members of the editorial board of IC Publications, who work with institutional partners involved in Africa and a network of experts from the continent. A distinguished and independent judging panel of persons known and respected for their banking and financial expertise, subsequently selects the winners.

Obi Emekekwue

Afreximbank Communications