The 20th edition of the African Banker Awards, which were held last night at the Kempinski Hotel in Brazzaville Congo, on the sidelines of the African Development Bank Annual meetings, honoured banks and bankers from across the continent in a clear reflection of a financial sector that is not only healthy and resilient but one that is maturing and contributing significantly to the continent’s economic development.
Attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo, representing the President of the country, Denis Sassou Nguesso, as well as leading banking dignitaries including the President of the AfDB, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, 18 winners were announced on a night of recognition, celebration and acclamation which was enlivened with a rousing performance by Congolese legend, Koffi Olomide.
In his speech at the ceremony, Omar Ben Yedder, Chair of the Awards Committee, emphasised the importance of financial sovereignty for banks in Africa: “nothing significant will move on this continent without strong banks and strong financial institutions at the centre. The coming decades will be defined by how courageous our business leaders are and by how willing our banks are to walk with them into new sectors, new markets and new models of collaboration.”
That strength and ability to structure and intermediate deals that impact on economic development and transformation were evident in the list of winners especially as deals around infrastructural development took home many awards from the Red Rocket Holdco renewable energy deal in South Africa, to the innovative NBET Finance Company PLC ₦501.02 billion (USD$346.7 million) Bond Issuance to resolve the debt crisis in Nigeria’s power sector and the successful Arise IIP Exit/Equity Raise to accelerate the push for industrialisation on the continent.
Ecobank’s announcement as Bank of the Year, presented by former Lifetime Achievement winner, Felix Bikpo, chairman of the African Guarantee Fund, was in many ways validation and affirmation for the pan-African bank which has reported not just a return to growth and profitability but payment of dividends to its shareholders after several years.
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Zambia’s Situmbeko Musokotwane won the coveted Minister of Finance of the Year, highlighting the country’s robust economic turnaround. DRC’s Central Bank Governor, André Wameso, was also recognised for supporting the growth of its banking sector as well as creating the conditions that supported its recent eurobond issuance, the last ‘big’ African country to tap international capital markets.
Two banks from DRC were also on the roster. TMB won Best Bank in Central Africa; and Rawbank won the The Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Bank of the Year Award. The AFAWA awards which is in its fourth year recognises and celebrates African financial institutions that are making significant strides in advancing access to finance for women-led businesses across the continent.
Investment banker and now President of the Banque Ouest-Africaine de Développement (BOAD), Serge Ekué, won the prestigious African Banker of the Year.
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The 2026 edition of the African Banker Awards was organised by African Banker magazine and IC Events under the high patronage of the African Development Bank.
Supporters included The African Guarantee Fund, a fund created to share risks with commercial banks to encourage them to lend to the SME sector returned as the ceremony’s platinum sponsor, the African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), which provides facilities to ensure against country risks and other associated insurance services, was the exclusive cocktail sponsor while Afreximbank and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) supported as gold sponsors. The Nigerian giant, GTBank were the associate partner. Algest Investment Bank were the Main Partner for this year’s Awards.
Full list of winners 2026:
- Banker of the Year: Serge Ekué, President at West African Development Bank BOAD
- Bank of the Year: Ecobank
- Sustainable Bank of the Year: Bank of Industry
- Fintech of the Year: Ziidi Trader, Nairobi Stock Exchange
- DFI of the Year: Afreximbank
- SME Bank of the Year: Co-operative Bank of Kenya
- Deal of the Year – Infrastructure: Red Rocket Holdco – Absa & Rand Merchant Bank
- Deal of the Year – Debt: NBET Finance Company PLC ₦501.02 Billion (USD$346.7 million) Bond Issuance – Cardinal Stone Partners
- Deal of the Year – Equity: Arise IIP Exit/Equity Raise – African Finance Corporation
- Lifetime Achievement: Henri-Claude Oyima, Chairman of the board of directors of BGFIBank
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- Central Bank Governor of the Year: André Wameso, Governor of the Central Bank of the Democratic Republic of Congo (BCC)
- Minister of Finance of the Year: Hon. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zambia
- Regional Bank – North Africa: Bank of Africa – Morocco
- Regional Bank – Southern Africa: Zanaco
- Regional Bank – West Africa: GCB Bank PLC
- Regional Bank – East Africa: CRDB
- Regional Bank – Central Africa: Trust Merchant Bank
- AFAWA Bank of the Year Award: Rawbank
About the African Banker Awards
The African Banker Awards; a prestigious accolade that celebrates excellence and best practices in African banking and finance recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and financial institutions that are transforming the continent’s financial sector and contributing to economic development and financial inclusion in Africa.
Organised by African Banker magazine in partnership with IC Events, the awards bring together industry leaders from across the continent to honour innovation, resilience, and the spirit of competition in African banking. For more information about the African Banker Awards, please visit our website at www.AfricanBankerAwards.com.
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African Banker is a leading publication dedicated to reporting on the banking industry across the continent. With insightful coverage on finance, politics, business, technology, energy, and resources, African Banker provides in-depth analysis and commentary on the trends shaping Africa’s financial landscape.
As a trusted source of information, African Banker offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities within Africa’s banking sector.
For media inquiries please contact Constance Haasz at: c.haasz@icpublications.com
