Oceanic wins 2007 Bank of the Year award

30.11.2007

Oceanic Bank International Plc. has been adjudged the Nigerian Bank of the year for the second year running by the Banker magazine, a subsidiary of the Financial Times of London.

The ceremony was held at the Dorchester Hotel, London, on Wednesday. The bank had earlier won the Nigerian Bank of the Year award in 2006.

A delighted Managing Director of the bank, Dr. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru, said she was dedicating the award to all the staff of bank. According to her, “I am deeply blessed and honoured to be working with such talented, dedicated and hardworking team. Without them, this award will not have been possible”.

Mrs. Ibru said the bank was highly committed to delivering value to the Nigerian economy, and to its core stakeholders, adding “we will not relent on our high standards.

“This award will only spur us on as we continue with our various strategies towards being an African bank to be reckoned with in the international community”.

In his opening speech, Editor-in-Chief of The Banker magazine Mr. Philip Timewell, paid particular tributes to banks from the emerging markets for turning in excellent financial performances when their counterparts in Europe and America were facing serious crises as a result of the recent spate of turbulences in the financial markets.

The event was well attended by representatives of banks from over 143 countries which entered the awards. Highlights of the night included the lifetime achievement award given to William Rhodes, a 50 years veteran of Citibank.