Access Bank Group Managing Director, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, wins 'african banker of the year' award

By The Citizen

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, has emerged the winner of the 2013 edition of 'African Banker of the Year' Award. This announcement was made at the Awards ceremony organized by African Banker Awards, the publisher of African Banker Magazine, IC Events and Business in Africa Events during the annual African Development Bank (AfDB) meetings held on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013 inMarrakech, Morocco.

In its 7th edition, the African Banker Awards is one of the biggest landmark annual events that recognize and celebrate the achievements of Africa's banking and financial sector. It is a ground-breaking event that brings together over 500 key industry players and top government officials from Africa and around the world to celebrate excellence and best practices in African banking and finance.

The Access Bank Chief Executive emerged  as winner in the 'African Banker of the Year' category which had two other Nigerian bankers – Andrew Alli, President/CEO, Africa Finance Corporation, Segun Agbaje, CEO/Managing Director ,GTB Bank and other established Bankers from both Mozambique and Tanzania, Joao Figueiredo, CEO and Chairman, Unico Bank; and Dr Charles Kimei, Managing Director, CRDB, as contenders is yet another recognition of his contributions to the African financial services landscape and his visionary leadership which has situated Access Bank in the region of global admiration.

Commenting on this year's entries Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker Magazine, said in the statement, 'I remain a staunch defender of the positive role banking institutions can play. The two biggest listed companies in China are both financial institutions and they play a critical role in the economy. The same can be said about many banks in Africa'.

Analysts across Africa have described Aigboje's emergence as winner of the highly coveted continental award as a testament to the transparency of the awards process and the resolve of the organizers of the annual awards to reward and promote excellence in the African financial system.

Citing some of Aigboje's achievements, an Analyst said 'Under his leadership, Access Bank transited from a lowly rated Nigerian Bank to rank amongst African leading financial brands and Nigeria's Tier 1 Banks, adding that Access Bank is the only Nigerian bank in the medium-sized category after the 2004/2005 N25billion recapitalization that retained its brand identity and subsequently transformed into a Tier 1 Bank'.

This is a solid tribute to the Bank's impressive growth trajectory driven by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede which has earned the Bank numerous recognitions and laurels. Aside from his inspiring leadership style and impressive professional accomplishments, Aigboje's resourcefulness has also been felt on the national and global arena where he has served in different capacities.

Over the past decade, he has registered himself as an ardent advocate of responsible business practices and sustainability. He has demonstrated commitment towards addressing critical societal needs via participation in global alliances, playing defining roles in global and workplace health initiatives. He was appointed the first African co-chair of the GBC Health, a leading global coalition of private sector companies focused on addressing health issues.

A highly sought after speaker on leadership and entrepreneurship who has served his fatherland in various capacities, Aigboje; a holder of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), is a member of the National Economic Management Team and the incumbent Chairman of the Bankers' Committee Sub-Committee on Economic Development and Sustainability.

He has won various awards locally and globally in his glittering career.  Aigboje was named the 2011 winner of the Ernest & Young West Africa Entrepreneur of the Year in recognition of his entrepreneurial process and exceptional commercial acumen. Also, he was named in 2012 among the top ten most respected CEOs in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Most Respected Companies and CEOs Survey.