Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been honoured with the prestigious title of Central Bank Governor of the Year at the 2025 African Banker Awards ceremony held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The accolade, presented during a high-profile gala on Wednesday, May 28, was bestowed by African Banker magazine. It recognises Cardoso’s “bold and strategic” reforms in Nigeria’s financial sector, which have been credited with restoring investor trust and economic stability.
In a press release issued by the CBN on Thursday, the awards panel acknowledged the central bank’s notable achievements under Cardoso’s stewardship. The committee praised the institution “for implementing key policy measures aimed at stabilising the naira, improving transparency in the foreign exchange market, and re-establishing policy credibility. These efforts have laid the groundwork for long-term macroeconomic resilience and renewed investor confidence,” the statement read.
The award was collected on behalf of the Governor by Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, who serves as his Adviser on Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Communication.
She was accompanied on stage by key members of the central bank’s leadership: Dr. Victor Oboh, Director of the Monetary Policy Department; Dr. Olubukola Akinwumi, Director of Banking Supervision; and Dr. Aloysius Uche Ordu, a representative on the Monetary Policy Committee.
Organisers further emphasised, “The award reflects the committee’s recognition of Governor Cardoso’s recent achievements and the Central Bank’s critical role in addressing market imbalances and repositioning the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth.”
Now in its 19th edition, the African Banker Awards are a flagship event hosted by African Banker magazine in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group, which acts as the official patron.
The annual celebration draws top-tier financial experts, policymakers, commercial banking executives, and development financiers from all over Africa to spotlight trailblazing accomplishments in the continent’s finance sector.
