African Banker Awards 2010 nominees announced

Commenting on this year's nominees, publisher of African Banker magazine Omar Ben Yedder remarked, "We have this year a wider representation from French-speaking Africa, as well as East and North African banks, in particular from Egypt and Morocco. Nigerian banks have had a torrid year, but we expect them to come back bigger and stronger. Most still remain strongly capitalised and it is an important market, in terms of size and scope. Prudent policies and growing economies have seen solid performances from Egyptian and Moroccan banks, who are pursuing bold and ambitious growth plans, whilst a stronger banking sector in French-speaking Africa saw some solid performances."

Sought-after categories

The nominees for the African Bank of the Year Award are the Moroccan Attijariwafa Bank, Mali's Bank of Africa, multinational Barclays Africa, Kenya's Equity Bank and South Africa's Standard Bank Group, all having a strong African footprint.

The nominees for the African Banker of the Year Award include Dr. James Mwangi, MD & CEO, Equity Bank Ltd, Kenya, Martin Oduor-Otieno, Group CEO, Kenya Commercial Bank, and Henri-Claude Oyima, MD, BGFIBank, Gabon, Arnold Ekpe, Group CEO, Ecobank Transnational Inc. and Adan Mohamed, MD for Kenya and Regional MD for East and West Africa, Barclays Bank of Kenya.

The Best Local Bank category returns for its second run, featuring Banco Internacional de Moçambique (BIM), Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie (BIAT), First Bank of Nigeria, Tanzania's National Bank of Commerce, and Stanbic Bank, Zimbabwe.

Providing country-wide services

Introduced last year after the Awards Committee's annual review, the Best Local Bank prize accords recognition to banks with primarily only country-wide operations, who nevertheless provide access to crucial financial services while contributing to the development of their operating country's banking and finance system by having instituted global best practices.

Commenting on the other categories Anver Versi, editor, African Banker, "It is heartening to see that microfinance has really taken off on the continent, catering to the needs of those at the bottom of the pyramid usually neglected by traditional financial institutions. On the other end of the spectrum, private equity provides crucial lifelines to development projects that suffer from financing gaps. These institutions rightly deserve to take their place alongside the best and brightest of the traditional financing sector."

Contributing to the financial system

Now in its fourth run, the African Banker Awards is organised by African Banker magazine and IC Events. It is a landmark event taking place every year during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings, and brings together over 300 key industry players and top government officials from Africa and around the world to honour the achievements of companies and individuals who have contributed significantly to the reform, modernisation and expansion of the continent's banking and financial system, driving Africa's sustained economic growth in the process.

The judges for this year's awards are Koosum Kalyan, chairperson, EdgoMerap (London), Nkosana Moyo, VP and chief operating officer, African Development Bank, Christopher Hartland-Peel, head of Africa Equity Research, Exotix, Alain Le Noir, CEO, Finances Sans Frontieres, and Aissa Hidoussi, CEO, Best Lease (Tunis).

The African Banker Awards 2010 are sponsored by Afrexim Bank and the Nedbank-Ecobank Alliance, and supported by the African Development Bank. Partners are the US-based Corporate Council of Africa (CCA) and BusinessinAfrica Events.

The winners will be revealed at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington DC on Friday, 8 October 2010.

African Banker Awards nominees 2010

African Bank of the Year

• Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco
  
• Bank of Africa, Mali
  
• Barclays Africa
  
• Equity Bank Ltd, Kenya
  
• Standard Bank Group, South Africa

Best Local Bank of the Year

• Banco Internacional de Moçambique (BIM) S.A., Mozambique
  
• Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie (BIAT), Tunisia
  
• First Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria
  
• National Bank of Commerce Limited, Tanzania
  
• Stanbic Bank, Zimbabwe

African Banker of the Year

• Arnold Ekpe, Group Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Transnational Inc., Togo
  
• Adan Mohamed, MD Kenya and Regional MD for East and West Africa, Barclays Bank of Kenya, Kenya
  
• Dr. James Mwangi, Managing Director & CEO, Equity Bank Ltd, Kenya
  
• Martin Oduor-Otieno, KCB Group Chief Executive, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Kenya
  
• Henri-Claude Oyima, Managing Director, BGFIBank, Gabon

Investment Fund/Private Equity Fund of the Year

• Actis LLP
  
• Citadel Capital, Egypt
  
• Coronation Fund Managers Limited, South Africa
  
• Emerging Capital Partners (ECP)
  
• Transcentury Ltd., Kenya

Socially Responsible Bank of the Year

• Access Bank Plc, Nigeria
  
• EFG-Hermes Foundation, Egypt
  
• Fidelity Bank, Nigeria
  
• Nedbank Group Limited, South Africa
  
• Swaziland Development and Savings Bank (SwaziBank), Swaziland

Most Innovative Bank of the Year

• Absa, South Africa
  
• BIAO Côte d'Ivoire, Côte d'Ivoire
  
• Citi Bank
  
• Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Kenya
  
• Nedbank - Ecobank Alliance, Togo and South Africa

Microfinance Institution of the Year

• Amhara Credit and Saving Institution (ACSI), Ethiopia
  
• BRAC Uganda Microfinance Ltd., Uganda
  
• Equity Bank Ltd, Kenya
  
• First Microfinance Foundation, Egypt
  
• National Bank for Development, Egypt

Deal of the Year

• Africa Finance Corporation - Main One Cable Project, Nigeria
  
• Citadel Capital - Egyptian Refining Company, Egypt
  
• EFG-Hermes Investment Bank - Juhayna IPO, Egypt
  
• Rand Merchant Bank -Aquarius Platinum Ltd, South Africa
  
• Standard Bank - Mercedes Benz, South Africa

Best Issuing House

• First Bank Nigeria Capital Ltd, Nigeria
  
• Renaissance Capital, Kenya
  
• Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Nigeria

Investment Bank of the Year