Leading retail bank, Diamond Bank PLC, has emerged Nigeria’s Best Bank in Customer Service and ICT at the just concluded 2014 Annual Banking Awards organized by Businessday newspapers.
Now in its second year, the Annual Banking Awards seeks to reward banks and bankers that have made significant contributions to the industry. Results are polled from a select list of financial criteria and nationwide customer surveys.
In his opening address, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, a former bank chief and chairman of the occasion, said the Nigerian banking industry is an epitome of what can happen when stakeholders unite to build an industry.
According to him, “The growth of the Nigerian banking industry has been fuelled by the sweat and energies of executives. It is, therefore, very fitting for these hardworking professionals to also come together to celebrate their successes.
“The current stability enjoyed in the Nigerian banking sector is as a result of the policies of relevant government regulators and the commitment of bank executives, so everyone gathered here is a winner and worthy of being celebrated,” he added.
Alhaji Mohammed Hassan Koguna, Chairman, RedStar Express, who was the Special Guest of Honour, noted that no major economy has developed without the significant contribution of the banking sector and that the current stability of Nigerian banks has positively impacted businesses.
He counselled that: those whose efforts are recognized and rewarded should see it as a call to greater responsibility towards the growth of the industry,” and charged the banks to introduce greater diversity in their products as that is the only way to make meaningful impact in a high retail market like Nigeria.
In his address, Mr. Philip Isakpa, Executive Director/CEO of BusinessDay newspapers, said that the vision of the Banking Awards is “to practice professionalism, recognize professionalism and reward professionalism.”
He noted that following the 2008/09 banking sector reforms, the organisers instituted the awards to support the progressive efforts of Nigerian banks so that the errors of the past are not repeated.
Isakpa noted that the 2014 awards extended its focus from core banking to embrace non-financial institutions such as mortgage and microfinance banks who help deepen the country’s export trade financing, as well as retired bank executives that have contributed to the growth of the Nigerian banking industry.
Receiving the awards on behalf of Diamond Bank, Mr. Abiye Koko, Head, IT Services, dedicated the awards to the loyal customers and staff of the bank for their belief in the Diamond brand.
He said: “At Diamond Bank, we are deeply committed to providing safe, accessible and convenient banking to our numerous customers across all our platforms. We see these awards as an endorsement of our efforts and they also reinforce our resolve to continually enrich the lives of our customers with innovative banking solutions.”
Mr. Pascal Dozie, former chairman of Diamond Bank, also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.
