Nigeria’s Minister of finance, budget, and national planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed has been named the African Finance Minister of the Year.
Considered as the Oscars of the African banking community, Dr. Ahmed was declared winner of the prestigious honour at the 2020 edition of the African Banker Awards.
In choosing Dr. Ahmed as the Finance Minister of the year, the organisers noted that despite difficult circumstances she was able to push through a set of difficult reforms as well as successfully engage international partners to help the country navigate an extremely challenging economic environment.
Before being appointed Acting Minister of Finance in September 2018, Dr Ahmed was the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning.
She previously served as the Executive Secretary and National Coordinator of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
An accountant and public sector executive with extensive knowledge and diverse experience in public sector reforms, and management, Zainab has served the Nigeria Public Service in various high ranking positions.
She was the Chief Finance Officer of Nigeria Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTEL) and until her appointment by the President of Nigeria in 2010, the Managing Director Kaduna Investment Company Ltd.
She holds a B.Sc. in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Masters in Business Administration (MBA).
Dr. Ahmed is a Fellow of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and Fellow, Institute of Certified Company Commercial Accountants of Nigeria among other professional organizations.
Zainab Ahmed has earned national and international commendations for her accomplishments in re-positioning NEITI as a courageous voice and agency in the growing agitation for good governance of Nigeria’s abundant natural resources in oil, gas and mining industry within a short time.
