CBN Governor Cardoso Honored for Transformative Leadership at Nairametrics Awards
By Patience Ikpeme
Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), received an Honorary Award at the inaugural Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards, held in Lagos on May 23, 2025. This recognition celebrates his impactful leadership and significant contributions to Nigeria’s financial and capital markets.
During the presentation, Mr. Ugo Obi-Chukwu, Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, credited Governor Cardoso with spearheading reforms that have revitalized the financial sector, bolstered investor confidence, increased market participation, and fostered long-term economic resilience.
Beyond the individual accolade, the Central Bank of Nigeria also secured the “Market Reform Initiative of the Year” award. This institutional win acknowledges the Bank’s persistent efforts in driving systemic reforms and innovation within the financial ecosystem. According to the organizers, the CBN’s recent policy interventions, aimed at enhancing monetary transparency, investor confidence, and financial market stability, were key factors in its selection for this distinguished award.
Accepting the award on behalf of Governor Cardoso and the CBN, Dr. Olubukola Akinwunmi, the Bank’s Director of Banking Supervision Department, expressed gratitude to Nairametrics for the recognition. She urged all stakeholders to continue pursuing transparency to ensure stability within the financial system.
Governor Cardoso’s tenure at the CBN, which began in September 2023, has been marked by a clear shift towards market-driven policies and a focus on restoring stability. Key initiatives under his leadership include efforts to unify the foreign exchange market, clear a substantial backlog of foreign exchange obligations, and pursue the ambitious recapitalization plan for commercial banks. These measures aim to strengthen the banking sector, improve its capacity to support economic growth, and attract increased foreign investment. His administration has also prioritized inflation targeting and a clean-up of legacy distortions within the monetary authority, signaling a new direction for Nigeria’s financial landscape.
Other notable individuals who received Honorary Awards at the event included the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recognized for positioning Lagos as a financial hub; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, who has been instrumental in market modernization and digital asset regulation; and the President of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Professor Uche Uwaleke, celebrated for his contributions to capital market education and advocacy.
The awards ceremony also featured posthumous tributes to three iconic figures who left indelible marks on Nigeria’s economic and business landscape: the late Chief Akintola Williams, Nigeria’s first Chartered Accountant; the late Chief Subomi Balogun, a pioneering banker; and the late Engr. (Mrs.) Florence Seriki, a trailblazing female tech entrepreneur.
The event, which celebrated excellence, resilience, and leadership shaping the future of Nigeria’s capital market, featured 25 award categories and brought together key players from across the financial services sector.
