The Economic Forum aligns with the broader vision of Africa Global Economic Forum as Africa’s leading global economic platform focused on shaping the future of business, finance, innovation, and policy across the continent
Under the Africa Global Economic Forum ®
Africa's Premier Executive Excellence in MSME Digital Transformation
Recognise. Honour. Spotlight. Celebrate.
Leaders transforming MSME access to digital finance across Africa.
Purpose & Positioning
To recognise, honour, spotlight, and celebrate CEOs and CTOs who are transforming MSME access to digital finance across Africa through innovation, leadership, and measurable impact.
Africa's premier awards for executive excellence in MSME digital transformation — setting the continental standard for leadership and technology innovation in the digital finance space.
Award Objectives
Honour transformational leadership in digital MSME finance across the continent.
Drive digital adoption among financial institutions and fintechs serving MSMEs.
Accelerate financial inclusion for underserved MSMEs through recognition and peer influence.
Encourage innovation in technology stacks, architecture, and product design for MSME markets.
Establish industry benchmarks for excellence in executive and technology leadership across Africa.
Competitive Award Categories
The pinnacle CEO recognition — awarded to the executive whose strategic leadership has most significantly advanced MSME digital finance across Africa.
Honouring CEOs who have driven scale and adoption of digital payment solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises.
Recognising leadership excellence in innovative digital credit and lending solutions serving MSME businesses.
Celebrating CEOs championing technology-led financial inclusion for underserved MSMEs across Africa.
Honouring CEOs integrating finance seamlessly into MSME platforms, marketplaces, and digital ecosystems.
Recognising outstanding leadership in digital microfinance institutions transforming access to small-ticket credit for MSMEs.
The pinnacle technology award — recognising the CTO whose architecture and engineering decisions have most significantly advanced MSME digital finance.
Honouring CTOs who have built robust, scalable payments infrastructure enabling digital transactions for MSMEs.
Recognising innovation in alternative credit scoring models, data-driven underwriting, and digital credit infrastructure.
Celebrating CTOs deploying AI, machine learning, and automation to transform MSME financial products and services.
Honouring technology leaders building secure, resilient digital finance infrastructure protecting MSMEs and their customers.
Open to CDOs, CIOs, and Heads of Engineering who have delivered transformational technology outcomes for MSME financial inclusion.
A special honour for policy leaders and regulators who have created enabling environments, championed frameworks, or driven regulatory innovation that accelerates MSME digital finance across Africa.
Special Feature: All awardees and honorees are featured in the post-event print and digital special report and awards editions of the MSME Finance & CEO Magazine, as well as online at msmefinance.com and msmefinanceceo.com, and at the awards ceremony in Lagos.
The awards are amplified extensively through traditional media coverage, across all digital & social media platforms, and through our media and PR promotion campaigns.
Scoring & Judging Criteria
Measurable outcomes in MSME access, adoption, and financial growth.
Novel approaches, architecture decisions, and product design excellence.
Revenue, user growth, and market expansion under their leadership.
Internal culture, team development, and industry influence.
Commitment to inclusion, ESG principles, and long-term sustainability.
NB: CEO scoring emphasises strategy, growth, and market impact. CTO scoring emphasises technology architecture, engineering decisions, and innovation output.
Judging Process
Internal secretariat reviews all applications and removes incomplete or ineligible entries. Public nominations, industry nominations from banks and fintechs, direct invitations, and internal shortlisting by the advisory board of the Africa Global Economic Forum ®.
An independent jury panel evaluates all nominees using a detailed scoring metric based on the five weighted criteria.
For major categories only: 30% public vote combined with 70% jury score to determine finalists.
Jury chair and lead conveners review and approve the final list of winners before announcement.
Winners are announced live during the evening awards gala ceremony in Lagos.
Jury Composition
Senior banking executives with deep MSME finance expertise.
Founders and builders at the frontier of fintech innovation in Africa.
Technology leaders with proven track records in enterprise digital transformation.
Senior executives from payment networks and digital payments infrastructure.
Specialists in digital risk frameworks and cybersecurity for financial services.
Representatives from regulatory bodies and MSME finance development institutions.
Total jury panel: 5–6 independent persons per category.
Event Design & Flow
Daytime Programme
Evening Programme
Nomination Structure
Nominations are open through public submissions, industry nominations from banks, fintechs and regulators, and direct invitations for high-ranking executives. All nominations are reviewed by the advisory board of the Africa Global Economic Forum ®.
CEO & CTO Awards
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The Economic Forum aligns with the broader vision of Africa Global Economic Forum as Africa’s leading global economic platform focused on shaping the future of business, finance, innovation, and policy across the continent