Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed Wins 2020 Africa’s Finance Minister Award at the African Banker Awards
Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Nigeria’s minister of finance, budget, and national planning recently emerged the winner of this year’s edition of the African Banker Awards which was held virtually.
The African Banker awards is the most prestigious event within the African banking and finance sector. The award is held under the patronage of the African Development Bank. The African Banker Awards are designed to recognize the reforms, rapid modernization, consolidation, integration and expansion of Africa’s banking and financial system. The event takes place during the annual meeting of the African Development Bank.
As Nigeria’s current finance minister, Zainab Ahmed has pushed through a set of difficult reforms as well as successfully engaging international partners to help the country navigate an extremely challenging economic environment.
Prior to getting appointed as a minister, Zainab Ahmed has served in various prominent positions. She was the managing director of the Kaduna State of Nigeria’s investment company and the chief finance of the Nigeria mobile telecommunications company at different points. She has also served as ex-officio Member of the Board of Governors (since 2018) as well as Islamic Development Bank’s ex-officio member of the Board of Governors (since 2018).
Other top winners from Nigeria in other categories include: African Banker of the Year: Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank, SME Bank of the Year: Bank of Industry, Nigeria, Innovation in Banking: Ecobank and Agri Deal of the Year: Olam Rice Farm – Access Bank.