Nsekela lands African banker nomination
DAR ES SALAAM: THE nomination of Dr Abdulmajid Nsekela for the prestigious African Banker of the Year Award has placed the country’s banking sector firmly in the continental spotlight, reflecting the growing influence of CRDB Bank in financing transformative economic projects and driving financial inclusion.
Dr Nsekela was named among seven finalists for the 2026 award, joining some of Africa’s most influential banking leaders from Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and regional development institutions.
The recognition also comes at a time when CRDB Bank continues expanding its regional footprint, strengthening digital banking services and financing major strategic projects across Tanzania and neighbouring markets.
Beyond the individual nomination, CRDB Bank was also shortlisted in the Deal of the Year – Debt category through its Al Barakah Sukuk Islamic Finance Transaction, underlining the bank’s growing role in structuring innovative financing solutions in African capital markets.
Other nominees in the category include Project Nexxus by Afreximbank and African Finance Corporation, the NBET Transaction by Cardinal Stone Partners, Côte d’Ivoire’s JPY50bn ESG Samurai Bond by SMBC, Crossboundary by Standard Bank, Drive Finance syndicated facility by National Bank of Egypt and Project Oak by Absa for the Kenya Roads Board.
Omar Ben Yedder said in a statement recently that African banks have evolved significantly over the past two decades by moving beyond traditional lending into structuring complex and transformative transactions.
“Over the last twenty years, we have seen a significant evolution in the work of banks. They’re now structuring groundbreaking transactions and using domestic capital and their own balance sheets to finance transformative projects,” he said.
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The Banker of the Year category also includes Jeremy Awori of Ecobank, Mukwandi Chibesakunda of Zambia’s Zanaco, Serge Ekué of the West African Development Bank (BOAD), Dr James Mwangi of Kenya’s Equity Group, Miriam Chidiebele Olusanya of Nigeria’s Guarantee Trust Bank, and Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe of Fidelity Bank Nigeria.
Industry analysts say the nomination reflects increasing recognition of Tanzanian banks in regional capital mobilisation, infrastructure financing and digital transformation initiatives.
For the financial year ended last December, CRDB Bank Group posted strong double-digit growth across major performance indicators.
Operating income reached 1.88tri/-, while profit before tax rose by 32.3 per cent to 1.03tri/-. Profit after tax increased by 32.1 per cent to 728.6bn/-.
The bank’s total assets grew by 33.6 per cent to 22.31tri/-, customer deposits increased by 36.5 per cent to 14.93tri/-, while net loans and advances expanded by 32.5 per cent to 13.72tri/- . Earnings per share stood at 280/40
