Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, Group Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, was recently conferred with the 2012 African Banker of the Year Award by the African Banker Magazine at a colourful African Banker Awards ceremony at Arusha, Tanzania.
The African Banker Award recognizes key financial industry leaders across the continent, who through good vision and leadership, have led their institutions to become industry leaders and trend setters.
Winners of the coveted Award must have consistently guided their organization to strong financial performance and contributed significantly to the quality of service offered by the financial services industry in their country, Africa and abroad.
Commenting at the 2012 African Banker Award, Segun Agbaje attributed his receipt of the award and the Bank’s varied achievements over the years to discipline, a defined operating strategy, hands on knowledge about the various markets the Bank operates in and the passion of GTBank employees, who constantly strive to give 100 per cent above customer expectations every single time.
Agbaje is a well respected professional within the Nigerian financial services industry with over 20 years experience in various aspects of banking. His belief in hardwork, innovation, discipline and excellence have enabled him steer Guaranty Trust Bank Plc to become the most profitable and respected Bank in Nigeria today.
The Bank is the most capitalized bank in Nigeria in terms of market capitalization (US2.7 billion as at March 7, 2012) and its stock, the most highly priced for any Nigerian financial institution. In addition, the Bank has continued to consolidate its position as a foremost African brand through enviable financial performance, adherence to the highest corporate governance principles and the introduction of innovative products and services.
Under Agbaje’s leadership, Guaranty Trust Bank has received numerous accolades within the last 12 months that include the 2011 Best Bank in Nigeria Award from Euromoney, the 2011 Bank of the Year Award from The Banker Magazine and the 2011 Best Bank in Nigeria Award from EMEA Finance.
Agbaje is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School and holds a B.Sc and MBA from the University of San Francisco, USA.
The Winners: African Banker Awards 2012
African Bank of the Year
Ecobank (ETI), Togo
African Banker of the Year
Olusegun Agbaje, Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria
Best Regional Bank in Africa
Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco – North Africa
BGFI, Gabon – Central Africa
Bank of Kigali, Rwanda – East Africa
Access Bank, Nigeria – West Africa
BCI, Mozambique – Southern Africa
Investment Bank of the Year
Renaissance Capital
Award for Innovation in Banking
Equity Bank, Kenya
Socially Responsible Bank of the Year
BMCE Bank Group, Morocco
Award for Financial Inclusion
Groupe Banque Populaire, Morocco
Deal of the Year
Jinchuan’s Acquisition of Metorex – Standard Bank Group
Best Bond Deal
Republic of Senegal: Sovereign Bond Issue – Standard Chartered Bank
Investment Fund/Private Equity Fund of the Year
Citadel Capital, Egypt
Best Retail Bank in Africa
Coris Bank International, Burkina Faso
Central Bank Governor of the Year
HE Mustapha Kamel Nabli, Central Bank Governor, Tunisia
Finance Minister of the Year
HE Kerfalla Yansané, Minister of Finance, Guinea
Lifetime Achievement Award
Arnold Ekpe
African Banker Icon
Dr Eleni Gabre-Mahdin, Founder and CEO, Ethiopia Commodities Exchange
