LAGOS, June 12 – Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso has been named Central Bank Governor of the Year at the Central Banking Awards held in London, in recognition of the reforms introduced under his leadership.
According to a statement from the apex bank, Cardoso received the award on Wednesday and dedicated the recognition to the board, management and staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, describing it as a reflection of their collective efforts rather than a personal achievement.
In his acceptance speech, Cardoso thanked Central Banking Publications and the award judges for the honour, while acknowledging the contribution of the bank’s employees whose work, often carried out behind the scenes, has helped strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
He noted that central banks around the world have had to navigate difficult economic conditions in recent years, with Nigeria facing its own set of challenges.
Cardoso pointed to several reforms undertaken by the CBN, including efforts to stabilise the foreign exchange market, tackle inflationary pressures and invest in digital and financial infrastructure to support long-term economic growth.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list and the completion of the banking sector recapitalisation exercise as major milestones achieved through collaboration among various institutions and stakeholders. According to him, the reforms have been guided by the need to rebuild confidence, strengthen policy credibility and create a more resilient financial system.
While noting that there is still work to be done, Cardoso said the recognition serves as encouragement to continue pursuing reforms aimed at preserving monetary stability and supporting sustainable economic growth.
He added that the progress recorded so far has been made possible through the support of the Federal Government, development partners, market participants and the resilience of Nigerians.
