Equity Bank has been awarded the prestigious African Business of the year 2009 Award.

The bank which prides itself in being Kenya's largest bank by customer base was awarded at the Commonwealth Business Council & Africa Business awards.

The award recognizes businesses which post outstanding returns and growth rates coupled with innovative working techniques,and development of staff and the community it operates in.

An elated Equity Bank's CEO Dr. James Mwangi dedicated the award to the institution's customers in Kenya and lately in Uganda and Southern Sudan for their loyalty and buy-in to its business model.

Dr Mwangi who was accompanied by the bank's chairman Mr. Peter Munga said the award would strengthen the bank's resolve to continue focusing on making banking accessible and affordable to majority of Kenyans who do not have access to banking facilities.

'Africa continues to lag behind because majority of its people do not have access to finances. We are delighted but also humbled by this recognition. Africa has solutions to the challenges it faces,' he said.

According to the organizers of the ceremony - IC Publishers and the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) - the awards represent a gathering of business leaders and companies who are making a significant contribution to Africa's business climate and economic development.

The achievements of the nominees and eventual winners are credited with creating new economic opportunities for citizens and communities all over the continent and inspiring the new generation of entrepreneurs who will shape the future of Africa's 53 countries.

The awards which were held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London attracted high profile business and industry representatives,entrepreneurs,government officials and diplomats from Africa,Asia,Europe and the USA.

The panel of Judges which comprises distinguished business experts covering all regions of Africa cited Equity Bank's financial performance,its development of new market segments and the economic empowerment through promotion of local business and capacity building as the reasons why Equity won the award.

The Kenyan Bank beat five other nominees: BMCE (Morocco),Dangote (Nigeria),Ecobank (Togo),MTN (South Africa) and Orascom Construction Industries (Egypt).

The award comes in the wake of Equity's recent listing and trading of its entire 3.7 billion ordinary shares at the Uganda Securities Exchange in pursuit of a regional and pan-African presence.

CBC,established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 1997 acts as a bridge for co-operation between business and government,concentrating on efforts to remove barriers to trade,mobilize investment into Commonwealth countries,foster a good environment for business and investment,promote good practice in corporate governance and corporate citizenship,and facilitate the engagement of the private sector in information communication technology for development initiatives,especially in less developed countries.



AFRICAN BUSINESS AWARDS-2009 WINNERS



Award for Governance

Lagos State,Nigeria



Tourism Destination of the Year

Morocco



Airline of the Year

Ethiopian Airlines



Best Global Business in Africa

Diageo



Award for most improved Investment Climate

Mauritius



Lifetime Achievement

Pascal Dozie,Founder and Chairman Diamond Group,Chairman,MTN Nigeria



Best Corporate Social Responsibility

Standard Chartered Bank



Telecoms Company of the Year

MTN



Award for Best Agricultural Development

Malawi



Outstanding Businesswoman

Maria Ramos,CEO,Absa



Business Leader of the Year

Cyril Ramaphosa,Executive Chairman Shanduka



African Business of the Year

Equity Bank,Kenya

Link:http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=58425



Now this is positive news,but wale watu wa fitina can not want you to know about this. All they want is porojo tupu. Bure kabusa.



'You can fool all the people some of the time,and some of the people all the time,but you cannot fool all the people all the time.'
Abraham Lincoln.