The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, formally received the Central Bank of the Year Award at the Central Banking Awards ceremony in London on Wednesday.
Cardoso dedicated the honour to the Board, management, and staff of the bank, describing it as recognition of their commitment to institutional reform and economic stability.
I accept this award on behalf of the Board, Management and staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Above all, it belongs to the many dedicated professionals who serve our institution with integrity, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to the public good.
In his remarks, the governor said the recognition was not a personal achievement but a reflection of the collective efforts of the institution’s workforce, including many professionals whose contributions are often made away from public attention.
Reforms and challenges
Cardoso noted that recent years had been challenging for central banks globally and that Nigeria had faced significant economic pressures. He said the CBN had undertaken difficult but necessary measures to address elevated inflation, reform the foreign exchange market, and invest in digital and financial infrastructure.
He also highlighted progress made during the period, including Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list and the completion of the banking sector recapitalisation exercise, which he said reflected cooperation among several institutions and stakeholders.
Looking ahead
According to Cardoso, the bank’s reform agenda has focused on restoring confidence, strengthening institutional resilience and policy credibility, and creating a foundation for sustainable economic growth.
We receive this recognition with humility.
We see it not as a destination, but as encouragement to continue the important work ahead.
He reaffirmed the CBN’s commitment to preserving public confidence, safeguarding financial and monetary stability, and carrying out its mandate with integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
The award represents a notable international recognition for the Central Bank of Nigeria at a time when monetary and financial sector reforms remain central to the country’s economic recovery and long-term growth agenda.
