Cardoso honoured as 2025 African Central Bank governor of the year

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has been awarded the prestigious title of Central Bank Governor of the Year at the 2025 African Banker Awards Gala.

According to a statement released by the CBN on Thursday, the award ceremony took place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, drawing participation from high-ranking government officials, development finance experts, and top banking executives from across the continent.

The accolade, presented by African Banker magazine, recognizes Mr. Cardoso’s impactful leadership in driving pivotal monetary and regulatory reforms.

Organisers credited the award to his “bold and strategic” decisions that have strengthened market confidence and laid the foundation for sustained economic growth.

In its official statement, the Awards Committee commended the Central Bank’s implementation of measures aimed at stabilising the naira and addressing volatility in the foreign exchange market. It also acknowledged the push for greater transparency and the restoration of policy credibility under Mr. Cardoso’s leadership.

“These efforts have laid the groundwork for long-term macroeconomic resilience and renewed investor confidence,” the statement read.

The award was received on behalf of the CBN Governor by Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, Adviser to the Governor on Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Communication. She was joined on stage by the Director of the Monetary Policy Department, Dr. Victor Oboh, and the Director of the Banking Supervision Department, Dr. Olubukola Akinwumi. Later, they were joined by a member of the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Dr. Aloysius Uche Ordu.

Event organisers said the recognition is a testament to the Central Bank’s role in addressing structural challenges in the financial system, managing market expectations, and repositioning Nigeria’s economy on a path of sustainable growth.

Now in its 19th edition, the African Banker Awards are hosted annually by African Banker magazine, with the African Development Bank Group serving as official patron.

The event has grown to become a leading platform for honouring institutions and individuals driving transformation within Africa’s financial sector.

This year’s ceremony attracted a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including finance ministers, central bank governors, CEOs of commercial and development banks, and other influential figures from across the continent.