The celebration of the continent’s brightest financial minds and institutions at the African Banker Awards in Marackech, Morroco last week culminated in the emergence of First Bank of Nigeria Limited as the ‘Best Bank in West Africa.
The organizers’ panel of distinguished professionals adjudged FirstBank as the sub-region’s best financial institution in recognition of its consistent performance, quality of its financial products/services, thought leadership status and contribution to the growth and development of the sector in the region.
Publisher of the African Banker, Omar Ben Yedder, said “Given its consistently strong performances in the region’s financial markets, FirstBank is indeed a deserving winner of this prestigious and well deserved recognition. The bank’s pedigree indeed continues to soar not just in Nigeria but indeed the sub-Region.”
FirstBank has recently been the recipient of several awards including ‘Best Bank Brand in Nigeria’ (The Banker Magazine); Best Retail Bank in Nigeria (Asian Banker) and Best Bank in Nigeria (Global Finance) as it continues to drive innovation and financial solutions that speak to the needs of various customer segments.
Commenting on the award, Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited said “It is indeed a great honour for FirstBank to be recognised as the best financial institution in West Africa as we continue to pursue our passion for service excellence and demonstrate unwavering commitment to good corporate governance and support for economic growth and development within Nigeria and the entire African continent. We dedicate the award to our over 7 millions customers across the globe and assure them that it will spur us on to a higher level of service to our customers.”
Onasanya added that the Bank’s ongoing upgrade to the Finacle 10 banking platform was another manifestation of the Bank’s resolve to enhance service delivery through continuous investment in technology.
Organized by African Banker magazine, IC Events and BusinessinAfrica Events, the African Banker Awards celebrates excellence and best practices in African banking and finance sector.
Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi won the award for Best Central Bank Governor during the event which was attended by the continent’s leading finance regulators, operators, policy makers, diplomats and their counterparts from other parts of the globe.
The awards ceremony also provided a veritable meeting point for commerce and creativity as the event’s supporting partners, Made In Africa, led by Ghanian-born international fashion designer, Ozwald Boateng, put together an outstanding fashion show that showcased creative designs from the creative arsenals of world class designers of African origin including Samantha Cole (British-Nigerian)Amine Bendriouich (Tunisian), Pierre Antoine Vettorello (French Ivoirian), , and Mimi Plange (Ghanaian-born Californian).
Highly celebrated entertainment icons of African origins including Grammy Award winner John Legend, legendary Senegalese singer and politician Youssou D’Dour, and American actor and MC Mos Def wowed guests in between the awards presentations. Senegalese R&B and hip hop recording artist Akon was also a guest at the world class awards event held at the Taj Palace, Marrakech
THE CITIZEN
