Nigeria Shines As GTBank, First Bank, Sanusi Win At African Bankers Awards

Guarantee Trust Bank was on Wednesday named winner of 'the 2013 African Bank of the Year' by the African Banker magazine, just as First Bank of Nigeria emerged the 'Best Bank in West Africa."

At the African Banker Awards gala dinner held in Morocco, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Lamido Sanusi, emerged the "2013 Africa Central Bank Governor of the Year" award winner for the third consecutive year, while the African Banker of the Year went to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.

According to the Publisher, African Banker and Managing Director, IC Events, Omar Ben Yedder, Sanusi's award was in recognition of his remarkable leadership role and consistent contribution to banking reforms in Nigeria, which have inspired his peers to emulate him across the continent of Africa and beyond.

In the citation prior to the presentation of the award, Mr. Yedder stated: "The African Banker Awards Committee has commended you (Sanusi) on your outstanding work in the past years in sustaining reforms; ensuring macroeconomic stability, protecting the independence of the Central Bank and enhancing many aspects of Nigerian Banking adoption of new technologies for financial inclusion; continuous modernization and more transparent disclosures including adopting higher reporting standards to banks."

The organizers of the award, which has the African Development Bank Group as its official patron, noted that the latter reforms championed by Mr. Sanusi are having positive impact not only on the banking industry, but also on the country as a whole.

"The Awards Committee has also highlighted that you have been continuously singled out by many of your Central Bank peers, international bankers, investors and development partners as a reformist Governor with integrity, candour, energy and exceptional courage," Mr. Yedder added.