Olukayode Pitan, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BoI), was honored with the Special African Banking Leadership Commendation Award at the 9th edition of the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) held in New York. The event took place on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) under the theme, ‘African-Caribbean Cooperation and Today’s Geopolitics.’
This prestigious award acknowledges Mr. Pitan’s outstanding leadership contributions and his role in driving the growth of Nigeria’s industrial sector. As the Managing Director and CEO of the Bank of Industry, one of Nigeria’s oldest and largest development finance institutions, Mr. Pitan has leveraged his over 30-year career experience across various financial services sectors, including banking and capital markets.
Under his leadership, the Bank of Industry has played a pivotal role in transforming Nigeria’s industrial landscape by providing affordable long-term financing and counter-cyclical loans diversified across various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Over the last five years, Mr. Pitan has pioneered innovative financial transactions in both the Nigerian capital market and the international financial market, contributing to Nigeria’s economic development. Under his leadership, the Bank of Industry successfully raised approximately $5 billion from the international market through syndications and the bond market in the last four years. Furthermore, the bank has consistently promoted financial inclusion by supporting the expansion of over 3 million enterprises, which, in turn, created more than 7 million jobs for Nigerians.
At the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) in New York, Mr. Pitan received this esteemed recognition alongside other distinguished leaders, including the President of Guyana, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali; the Vice President of The Gambia, H.E. Muhammad B. S. Jallow; and the Minister for Sea, Culture, and Tourism, Cabo Verde, Hon. Jose Gonçalves.
This annual IFAL event, hosted by the African Leadership Magazine, has become a vital platform for connecting world leaders, policymakers, and private sector leaders, with a focus on Africa and the Caribbean nations. It addresses challenges, strengthens trans-regional cooperation, builds partnerships, and enhances engagement in various sectors such as trade, investments, innovation, technology transfer, culture, and tourism.