From Victor Osula, Abuja
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, has been named Central Bank Governor of the Year at the 2025 African Banker Awards.
The award, presented by African Banker magazine on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, recognises Cardoso’s “bold and strategic” leadership in steering monetary and regulatory reforms that have restored stability and confidence in Nigeria’s financial system, according to the organisers.
The Awards Committee commended the Central Bank of Nigeria under Cardoso for implementing key policy measures aimed at stabilising the naira, improving transparency in the foreign exchange market, and re-establishing policy credibility.
The Committee noted that these efforts have laid the foundation for long-term macroeconomic resilience and renewed investor confidence.
Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, Adviser to the Governor on Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Communication, accepted the award on Cardoso’s behalf. She was joined on stage by the Bank’s Director of Monetary Policy, Dr. Victor Oboh, and Director of Banking Supervision, Dr. Olubukola Akinwumi. They were later accompanied by a member of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Dr. Aloysius Uche Ordu.
“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,” the organisers said.
Now in its 19th year, the African Banker Awards are organised by African Banker magazine, with the African Development Bank Group serving as its official patron. The annual event attracts senior figures from government, banking, and development finance institutions across the continent to celebrate excellence in African finance.
