Encomium
Finance leaders and corporate stakeholders were recognised at the Africa Finance Festival 2026 gala dinner in Lagos. MTN Nigeria emerged as a standout organisation of the night, while also serving as an event sponsor. The awards focused on governance, investor relations, tax compliance, and leadership performance across the continent’s finance sector.
Akin Naphtal, Group CEO of InstinctWave, stated that the awards reflect a commitment to excellence across the continent’s financial ecosystem. “The Africa Finance Awards were established to recognise the exceptional individuals, institutions, and teams whose leadership, innovation, discipline, and impact continue to shape Africa’s financial future,” he said, noting the platform’s growth in honoring measurable impact.
MTN Nigeria received multiple honors, including Best Company in Investor Relations, Excellence in Tax Compliance, and Finance Team of the Year. Senior executives were also celebrated with CFO Modupe Kadri named Africa Transformational CFO of the Year and listed among the Top 50 CFOs, while Senior Manager, Investor Relations Chimaobi Nwaokama was named Investor Relations Personality of the Year. Earlier this year, MTN reported strong Q1 results, with core revenue rising 27.9 percent, driven by performance in Nigeria and Ghana reflecting the same investor confidence, financial discipline, and operational strength highlighted in its recognition at the awards.
The awards highlighted increasing emphasis on transparency, governance, and investor confidence across listed companies. According to the World Bank, stronger corporate governance frameworks improve investor trust and help attract long-term capital into emerging markets, particularly in sectors such as telecommunications and financial services.
The ceremony ended with recognition of finance professionals and organisations across Africa, as stakeholders called for stronger collaboration between corporate institutions, regulators, and investors to sustain growth and financial stability across the continent.
