Essien Wins African Banker Of The Year

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.He received the award during a prestigious Gala dinner in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire on 27African banker awardth May, that witness over 500 dignitaries in attendance. Among them were a number of African Ministers of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, along with the CEOs of some of Africa's leading Banks and financial institutions, whilst 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.

Veteran Banker, Albert Essien from Ghana was awarded the African Banker of the Year prize for his hard work in inheriting a bank in a precarious position last year, but has managed to steady the ship and bring in some important shareholders to strengthen Ecobank's capital base.

Essien upon receiving the award called on fellow Africans to work hard , get enough education so as to build the African continent .

This year's ceremony was hosted by MasterCard International. Speaking at the event, MasterCard's Division President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Daniel Monehin said: "We believe that the African Banker Awards understands precisely what excellence in banking means - one only has to consider the Award winners and nominees tonight. This is why we are proud to support these Awards, where we recognize and commemorate our banking colleagues who have, in the last year, provided us with outstanding examples of progress towards our shared goal of banking excellence."

Ecobank/Nedbank, Banque Internationale pour l'Afrique au Congo (BIAC), Banque Altantique, Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire, GT Bank and Coris Bank International also supported the Awards, along with ECAir, Sopra Banking Software and Travelex.

Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker thanked the sponsors and the judging panel which this year included Ade Adebajo, Consultant, Debt Capital Markets – Africa; Koosum Kalyan, Chairman, EdgoMerap Pty Ltd; Tom Minney, Editor, African Capital Markets News - African Growth Partners Ltd; Alain le Noir, CEO - Finances Sans Frontières; Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner - Ernst & Young Ethiopia; Michel Losembe, President - Congolese Association of Banks; Paul Derreumaux Honorary President - Bank of Africa Group and Christopher Hartland – Peel, Principal - Hartland-Peel Africa Equity Research.

"We have a fantastic crop of winners once again and they are widespread in terms of countries. 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. It is great to see banks and financiers rise to the challenge to keep innovating and having a positive impact on Africa's growth. The growth story will depend on a strong and resilient banking system, one that is both bold and responsible. We see plenty of these qualities amongst our winners tonight."The African Bank Awards is an annual awards scheme instituted to celebrate and give recognition to African personalities whose daily endeavors have contributed tremendously to the growth of the the African continent .

Here is the full list of winners:

African Bank of the Year

Groupe Banque Populaire

Morocco

African Banker of the Year

Albert Essien, Group CEO Ecobank (ETI)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Jim Ovia

Chairman, Zenith Bank

Nigeria

Finance Minister of the Year

Hon. Claver Gatete

Rwanda

Central Bank Governor of the Year

Prof Njuguna Ndung'u

Kenya

African Banker Icon

Tidjane Thiam

Former Finance Minister of Cote d'Ivoire and CEO of Prudential

Best Regional Banks in Africa

Best Bank in North Africa

Attijariwafa Bank

Morocco

Best Bank in West Africa

Orabank

Best Bank in Central Africa

Groupe BGFI Bank

Gabon

Best Bank in East Africa

Bank of Kigali

Rwanda

Best Bank in Southern Africa

Banco de Comercio e Investimentos

Mozambique

Best Retail Bank in Africa

Standard Bank

South Africa

Investment Bank of the Year

Rand Merchant Bank

South Africa

Award for Innovation in Banking

Millennium BIM

Mozambique

Socially Responsible Bank of the Year

BMCE Bank

Morocco

Award for Financial Inclusion

Fondation Attawfik

Morocco

Deal of the Year - Equity

Seplat IPO

(Standard Bank)

Deal of the Year - Debt

$850m Commercial and ECA Backed Financing Package for the Ethiopian Railways Corporation

(Credit Suisse)

Trade Finance Deal of the Year

$1.3bn Petroleum Export Limited Syndicated Pre-export Facility

Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt

Infrastructure Deal of the Year

CENPOWER - KPONE IPP

Africa Finance Corporation, Nigeria

Best Islamic Finance Initiative

Senegal Sukuk

Citi and ICD