The United Bank for Africa, UBA, and Fidelity Bank are two of the top banks that won big honours at the 2020 edition of the BusinessDay’s Bank and other Financial Institutions Awards.

The award which held recently saw UBA winning the Best Bank of the Year as well as the award for the International Bank of the Year.

UBA beat Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, and First Bank to clinch the two top categories in a well-attended ceremony comprising of Bank CEO’s, captains of Industries, and Senior financial executives.

In the same vein, Fidelity Bank Plc clinched the award for Commercial Bank of the Year.

While Fidelity Bank won the award in recognition of its support for economic activities in the real sectors of the Nigerian economy, particularly for its consistency in enhancing the development and competitiveness of Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), UBA won the ‘Bank of the Year’ in recognition of its consistent effort in outperforming its peers using a composite of financial metrics, strategic foresight, execution discipline, world-class governance, and global vision.

UBA also won the award for ‘International Bank of the Year’, a keenly contested category, that pitches Nigerian financial institutions that have expanded on the continent against their international peers operating across Africa.

On the same night, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo was honored as the banking sector CEO of the Decade for transforming Fidelity Bank into one of the fastest-growing and most trusted financial services brands in Nigeria.

UBA’s Deputy Managing Director, Liadi Ayoku,  received the awards on behalf of the bank while Fidelity Banks’s Executive Director, Corporate Bank, Obaro Odeghe dedicated it to the bank’s teeming customers, whom he said are central to the bank’s overall strategic intent.

Speaking on UBA’s honours, Ayoku said, “These awards mark another milestone for UBA Group and is a testament of the diligent execution of the bank’s strategic initiatives on customer service. Being recognized as Nigeria’s best bank complements positive feedback from customers and is a recognition of our improving efficiencies, service quality and innovation. I therefore dedicate it to our growing loyal corporate and retail customers, who are our essence. Given our heritage commitment to Africa’s development, we continue to impact lives through our service as well as funding to individuals, businesses and government.”

On Odeghe’s part, he said, “The reward for hard work they say is more work. We are encouraged to continue to do more for the benefits of our customers and the overall economy.”