African Banker Awards Intro

Awards Picture 1

Guests of the African Banker Awards

Awards Picture 2

IC Publications Sales Director, 3i Infotech COO and Ecobank Chairman

Awards Picture 3

Afrexim President Jean-Louis Ekra (left) with Banco Internacional de Mocambique Chaiman Mr. Mario Machungo (right) and CEO and Vice Chairman João Figueiredo

Awards Picture 4

Arnold Ekpe, Ecobank CEO with Otunba Dr Michael Balogun, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award and guests

Awards Picture 5

Ambassador Robert Perry with Corporate Council on Africa representatives

Awards Picture 6

Governor of the Central Bank of Botswana Mrs Moholho (right) with her team

Awards Picture 7

Mahmoud Abdel Latif, CEO and Chairman, Bank of Alexandria, nominated in the category African Banker of the Year

Awards Picture 8

Jaloul Ayed, CEO of BMCE speaking with IFC representatives

Awards Picture 9

Oby Ezekwesili - Vice President World Bank Africa

Awards Picture 10

Tim Turner, Director of Private Sector, African Development Bank

Awards Picture 11

Brian Robinson, Head New Markets, Renaissance Capital is given the award for Investment Bank of the Year by Tim Turner, African Development Bank

Awards Picture 12

Prof. Chukvuma C. Soludo, Central Bank Governor of Nigeria, delivering a speech to the audience

Awards Picture 13

Prof Chukwuma Soludo, Central Bank Governor of Nigeria hands over the award for Mortgage Bank of the Year to Banque de l'Habitat de Tunisie

Awards Picture 14

Paul Waithaka, Director of Equity Bank, Kenya, winner of Microfinance Bank of the Year

Awards Picture 15

Omar Ben Yedder, Associate Group Publisher IC Publications

Awards Picture 16

Stephen Hayes, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa

Awards Picture 17

Stephen Hayes from the Corporate Council on Africa gives the award for Deal of the Year to Clive Tasker, MD Standard Bank

Awards Picture 18

Baroness Chalker presenting an award

Awards Picture 19

Baroness Chalker gives Ecobank's CEO Arnold Ekpe the award for Most Innovative Bank of the Year

Awards Picture 20

Equity Bank's Paul Waithaka receives the award for Microfinance Bank of the Year from Brian Robinson, Head New Markets, Renaissance Capital

Awards Picture 21

Shanta Devarajan, Chief economist World Bank Africa Region

Awards Picture 22

Clive Tasker, MD Standard Bank, accepts the Deal of the Year Award

Awards Picture 23

African Banker Awards judge Christopher Hartland-Peel presenting the Award for Best Issuing House

Awards Picture 24

Winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award Otunba Dr Michael Balogun interviewed by the press

Awards Picture 25

Afriexim President, Jean Loius-Ekra (left) shaking hands with the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award Otunba Dr Michael Balogun

Awards Picture 26

Afif Ben Yedder, Group Publisher IC Publications, announces the African Banker of the Year

Awards Picture 27

UBA's MD for Europe, Nandan Mer (right) collects the award for African Banker of the Year on behalf of Mr. Tony Elumelu, CEO UBA, Nigeria from Afif Ben Yedder

Awards Picture 28

Development Bank of Southern Africa, winner of Best Development Bank in Africa

Awards Picture 29

Mr Srinivasan CEO of 3i Infotech

Awards Picture 30

Thomas Gibian, CEO of ECP receiving the award for the investment fund of the year from the CEO of 3i Infotech

Awards Picture 31

Akin Fabunmi, General Manager of Intercontinental Bank picks up the award for African Bank of the Year

Awards Picture 32

Gerry Brace, Sales Manager, Virgin Nigeria, announces the Central Bank Governor of the Year

Awards Picture 33

Some of the winners pose for the cameras

Bankers from Kenya, South Africa, Tunisia, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana and Malawi, representing North, South, East, West and Central Africa, won the African Banker Awards 2008 in Washington, D.C on Friday 10^th of October. The African Banker of the Year award went to Dr Tony Elumelu, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, the African Bank of the Year award went to Intercontinental Bank Plc, Nigeria and the Lifetime Achievement award was presented to one of the pioneers of African banking, Otunba Dr Michael Balogun the founder of the First City Merchant Bank (FCMB) Nigeria.

This year’s event, hosted by the London-based IC Publications Ltd, publishers of African Banker magazine, was held on the eve of the World Bank’s critical global discussions on the state of the world’s financial systems. “For once we can say the world can learn from Africa,” said Chukwuma Soludo, the Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank. Thanks to root-and-branch reforms and tight regulatory regimes, Africa’s banking sector has grown by over 28% over the past year and continues to grow despite the global financial crisis.

Over 350 people, including Africa’s finance ministers, governors of central banks, financial market regulators, global media personalities, industry leaders and top bankers attended the glittering ceremony.

A total of 17 awards were presented at the grand ceremony, which was endorsed by the World Bank and supported by the Corporate Council on Africa and African Development Bank. Sponsors included the Renaissance Group, 3i Infotech, Ecobank, Virgin Nigeria Airways and the Bank of Industry, Nigeria.

Afif Ben Yedder, Group Chairman of IC Publications, told the audience: “There are great investment opportunities in many sectors in Africa today as the growth of the continent’s economy continues to be the fastest in the world.”

Otunba Dr Michael Balogun, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, recounted that when he wanted to set up his own merchant bank in Nigeria, he was not allowed to do so unless he had a technical partner from the West: “It is quite staggering to think how far we have come from those dark days,” he said.

Associate publisher Omar Ben Yedder remarked: “Today it is the Banks which are realising the Pan-African vision of regional integration. The Africa of today is building world class institutions managed by great African business leaders.”

Christian Udechukwu, Managing Director, BusinessinAfrica Events announced that the 3rd African Banker Awards will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, to coincide with the IMF/World Bank Annual meeting next year.

For more commentary, further information and for access to photos, please contact the following: