African Banker Awards 2025 : development finance institutions in the spotlight

Development finance institutions shone brightly during the African Banker Awards 2025 ceremony. Created by African Banker magazine in partnership with IC Events, these awards recognize, each year, the institutions and personalities shaping the future of African finance. The latest and 19th edition was held on 28 May at the Sofitel Hotel in Abidjan. Five DFIs walked away with trophies, confirming their central role in financing Africa’s economic transformation.

Patricia Ojangole named African Banker of the Year

Among the most anticipated awards, Patricia Ojangole, Managing Director of the Uganda Development Bank, was named African Banker of the Year, becoming the second woman from East Africa to win this title in three years. She was praised for strengthening her bank’s capitalization, drastically reducing the non-performing loan ratio, and improving key performance indicators.

In Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank, was awarded Central Bank Governor of the Year for his ambitious reforms in foreign exchange management, bank recapitalization, and transparency, which helped restore investor confidence.

In Morocco, Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance, was named Finance Minister of the Year. Her macroeconomic management and the Kingdom’s policy of economic diversification were praised by the jury.

African DFIs have won big because of the catalytic role they are playing in transforming the investment landscape

“Thomas Sankara said the ones that feed you, rule you. To paraphrase him, we could easily say the ones that finance you, rule you. We need strong African-owned banks. The private sector is the key to unlocking scale, and banks are the fuel for driving Africa forward, said Omar Ben Yedder, Chair of the Awards Committee. African DFIs have won big because of the catalytic role they are playing in transforming the investment landscape as well as working more closely with the African private sector to support SMEs and other asset classes that are underfunded.”

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Idrissa Nassa, CEO of Coris Bank International. His banking group, active in 11 countries, now holds nearly 10% of the WAEMU market – a prime example of pan-African success.

Champions are not made on the podium. They are forged in the quiet, unseen moments in the discipline it takes when no one is watching. And as African women, we carry within us a powerful legacy: one of strength, of wisdom, and of vision

The event, which brought together 500 decision-makers from the African financial sector, was also marked by the presence of Ivorian athlete Murielle Ahouré-Demps, who presented the African Banker of the Year Award.
 “Champions are not made on the podium. They are forged in the quiet, unseen moments in the discipline it takes when no one is watching. And as African women, we carry within us a powerful legacy: one of strength, of wisdom, and of vision. I am deeply proud of that,” she declared.

Full list of winners – African Banker Awards 2025:

• Banker of the Year: Patricia Ojangole, Managing Director, Uganda Development Bank
• Bank of the Year: Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB)
• Sustainable Bank of the Year: Nedbank
• Fintech of the Year: 4G Capital
• Development Financial Institution of the Year: African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI)
• SME Bank of the Year: CRDB Bank
• Infrastructure Deal of the Year: 1.1 GW Suez Wind Project (Egypt) – African Development Bank
• Debt Deal of the Year: €1.87 billion syndicated debt issuance by Bank of Industry – with Africa Finance Corporation and Afreximbank
• Equity Deal of the Year: Arden Project – Acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company by Renaissance Energy for $2.4 billion (PwC Nigeria)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Idrissa Nassa, CEO, Coris Bank Group
• Central Bank Governor of the Year: Oluyemi Cardoso, Central Bank of Nigeria
• Finance Minister of the Year: Nadia Fettah, Kingdom of Morocco
• AFAWA Bank of the Year Award: Ecobank