Co-op Bank celebrated as East Africa’s Regional Bank of the Year

The 16th edition of the African Banker Awards Gala Ceremony took place on 25th May 2022 at the Kempinski Hotel, in Accra, Ghana.

The event was held under the High Patronage of the African Development Bank, being part of the programme of the Bank’s Annual Meetings.

Two women won two of the most prestigious awards: the African Banker Icon and Finance Minister of the Year.

Ms Vera Songwe, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, was awarded the African Banker Icon Award for her tireless work in providing governments with the fiscal ammunition to deal with the impact of COVID-19.

Angola’s Finance Minister, Hon Vera Esperança dos Santos Daves de Sousa, was recognised as the Finance Minister of the Year for her stand-out work in restoring stability and market confidence to her country.

Another notable recognition was for Michael Atingi-Ego, the Deputy Central Bank Governor, Uganda, who won Central Bank Governor of the Year.

In his speech, Omar Ben Yedder, Chair of the African Banker Awards Organising Committee and Publisher of African Banker magazine, said that it is time we focused our efforts on strengthening our domestic capabilities to finance growth.

“We need strong institutions and we need to start with our commercial and development banks. If we have learnt anything from the past two years, and even more so these last two months, it is that we need to achieve financial sovereignty if we are to own our growth agenda.”

Other winners include legendary Nigerian banker Atedo Peterside, founder of IBTC Bank, which he merged with Stanbic 15 years ago, who won Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to banking.

The Regional Bank of the Year Award for East Africa was given to the Co-Operative Bank of Kenya for overall excellence in banking in the region.

This is the breakdown on main winners of the African Banker Awards 2022:

Energy Deal of the Year Temane Thermal Power Station – Absa Mozambique and International Finance Corporation

Agriculture Deal of the Year – US $200 Million corporate facility (the “Facility”) to BUA Industries Limited (“BIL”)
Africa Finance Corporation

Infrastructure Deal of the Year – The Luanda Bita Water Supply Project African Trade Insurance Agency

Deal of the Year : Debt – Bank of Industry €750 Million Debut Senior Note Participation Notes due 2027 Bank of Industry

Deal of the Year – Equity Prosus’ c. US$15 Billion Accelerated Equity Offering in Tencent Citi

Sustainable Bank of the Year – Trade and Development Bank

FinTech of the Year – Interswitch

Award for Financial Inclusion – Tugende Uganda

SME Bank of the Year – Ecobank

DFI of the Year – Trade and Development Bank

African Bank of the Year – The Standard Bank Group

African Banker of the Year – Benedict Oramah

Yaw Kuffour Award for Trade Finance – Coris Bank

Central Bank Governor of the Year – Michael Atingi-Ego (Deputy Central Bank Governor, Uganda)

Minister of Finance of the Year – Hon. Vera Esperança dos Santos Daves de Sousa, Angola

African Banker Icon – Dr. Vera Songwe (Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Lifetime Achievement – Atedo Peterside CON, Founder of IBTC Bank

Best Regional Bank – North Africa National Bank of Egypt

Best Regional Bank – Southern Africa Mauritius Commercial Bank

Best Regional Bank – West Africa Fidelity Bank, Ghana

Best Regional Bank – East Africa Co-op Bank of Kenya

Best regional Bank – Central Africa Raw Bank, DRC