Albert Essien, Group CEO of Ecobank, has won the African Banker of the Year Award at the ninth edition of the African Banker Awards, hosted by African Banker magazine under the patronage of the African Development Bank.
He received the award during a prestigious gala dinner in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Wednesday, May 27 at the ongoing 40th Annual Meetings of African Development Bank.
Veteran banker Albert Essien from Ghana was awarded the African Banker of the Year Award for his hard work in inheriting a bank in a precarious position last year. Essien managed to steady the ship and bring in some important shareholders to strengthen Ecobank’s capital base.
Upon receiving the award, Essien called on fellow Africans to work hard, get enough education, so as to build the African continent .
Ivorian Tidjane Thiam, the first African CEO of a FTSE100 company, and Nigerian Jim Ovia, Chairman of Zenith Bank, received the honours in the African Banker Icon and Lifetime Achievement categories, respectively.
Nigerian Jim Ovia, Chairman of Zenith Bank, was also crowned African Banker Icon and Lifetime Achiever.
In the African Bank of the Year category, Groupe Banque Populaire beat stiff competition from four shortlisted nominees to win the coveted title.
Groupe Banque Populaire is one of the most important financial services groups in Morocco. It has recently taken a major stake in West African group Banque Atlantique and helped to turn around its performance significantly.
East Africa won two coveted awards: the Minister of Finance and Central Bank Governor categories for Rwanda and Kenya, respectively.
Morocco had a strong showing with four awards. Mozambique did well winning two awards in the most innovative bank and best bank in Southern Africa categories. Source: AllAfrica
