By Staff Writer
Absa Bank Zambia Managing Director Mizinga Melu has been recognized as the Most Influential African Women Banker of the Year (Rest of Africa) at the Africa Bank 4.0 Awards.
Ms Melu was awarded through a voting system in which members across the African banking fraternity gave the highest number of votes for Mizinga Melu in her respective category.
The Africa Bank 4.0 award ceremony took place on Thursday, 26 May 2022 at the Movenpick Hotel & Residences in Nairobi, Kenya.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Ms Melu said, “I am very honoured to receive this award on behalf of myself and Absa Bank. It means a lot to me that the work that I have been doing with my team has been seen and recognised by my peers in the African banking fraternity, and my hope is that we have more Zambian winners receiving this award in the not too distant future.”
“Standing before you now, I am living evidence of the change that has started to take root in the financial services sector. However, much work remains to be done in achieving greater gender inclusivity in the financial services sector from both a management and clientele perspective. But by working together and making the necessary changes at both institutional and sector levels, I believe that a more inclusive financial sector is a reality that can be realised within my lifetime, Ms Melu said.
The Africa Bank 4.0 Awards took place on the back of the 8th African Bank 4.0 Summit – CEO Exclusive, a premium event drawing policy makers and higher authorities from Africa’s banking and fintech sectors for five days of workshops and forums to discuss the way forward for progressing Africa during these uncertain times by advancing digital inclusion on the continent.
Together with senior officials from the financial services sector, the summit also drew ministerial officials from relevant government bodies as well as regulators who participated in charting Africa’s digital banking future.
Alongside receiving her award, Ms Melu also delivered remarks on setting the scene for gender inclusion in Africa as well as participated in a Women Voices CEO panel discussion alongside other distinguished female personalities in the African financial services sector during the 8th African Bank 4.0 Summit.
Ms Melu was nominated for the Most Influential African Women Banker of the Year (Rest of Africa) alongside Nasim Devji – Group Managing Director, Diamond Trust Bank, Rebecca Mbithi – Chief Executive Officer, Family Bank Kenya and Yemisi Edun – Managing Director & CEO, First City Monument Bank.
The 8th African Bank Summit 4.0 and Africa Bank 4.0 Awards hosted between 23 -27 May were organized by BII World, a specialist provider of educational, research and consulting solutions to corporate and governmental organizations, and powered by Network International, a provider of technology-enabled payments solutions to merchants and financial solutions in the Middle East and Africa.
