Foremost African financial institution; Guaranty Trust Bank plc has once again reaffirmed its position as a leading global brand following its recent recognition for good corporate governance during the 2015 African Business Awards held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Launched in 2008 by African Business magazine, the African Business Awards has become the definitive business awards in Africa, recognising leadership and excellence on the continent. The objective of the Awards is to highlight a successful and vibrant Africa that is open to local, regional and global business ventures. Now in its seventh year, the African Business Awards has grown into a platform that celebrates excellence in African business by recognising the individuals and companies that are driving Africa’s rapidly transforming economy and creating new economic opportunities for citizens and communities all over the continent.

According to Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher & Managing Director of IC Publications: “We are proud of all our winners, their work and accomplishments in various sectors show what can be achieved on the African continent with hard work and single minded determination. In winning this year’s award, GTBank stands out in Africa and the rest of the world as a benchmark for good corporate governance, business ethics and adherence to international best practices.”

Commenting on the award, Segun Agbaje, Managing Director/CEO of GTBank said: “We operate in challenging business environments, but we believe that our stakeholders should be better off for partnering with us. Thus, we set high goals and benchmark ourselves against global standards which influence our service culture and product offerings, thereby enabling us to remain relevant to our customers while adding value to all stakeholders. For us, winning this award is an attestation of the hard work and dedication of our staff, management and Board towards conducting business in a manner that typifies our adherence to global best practices. It also is an indication that our business model, systems and management are recognized globally as a benchmark for good corporate governance.”

Continuing, Agbaje said: “Earlier this year, we became the first financial institution in Nigeria to obtain and fully implement the triple International Organization for Standardization certification by the British Standard Institute (BSI) as required by the Central Bank of Nigeria. As a Bank, we will continue to ensure conformity of our processes with international best practices and global standards.

“The GTBank brand is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service delivery and innovation.”

•Photo shows GTBank MD/CEO, Segun Agbaje.