National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) Governor Soraya Hakuziyaremye has been named the winner of the African Woman in Finance Award at the 2026 Africa Financial Summit (AFIS), in recognition of her leadership and contribution to advancing financial inclusion. The annual AFIS Awards were presented during a ceremony held on Tuesday, November 3, in Luanda, Angola, as part of the sixth edition of the Africa Financial Summit, which she attended. The award recognises female leaders in public and private financial institutions who have demonstrated excellence in their careers, operational leadership, influence in the financial community and commitment to promoting financial inclusion. ALSO READ: Soraya Hakuziyaremye appointed new central bank governor Hakuziyaremye was recognised for her leadership, career achievements and commitment to expanding financial inclusion in Rwanda and across the continent. In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, BNR said she was honoured “in recognition of her outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing financial inclusion.” “This recognition celebrates her contributions to Rwanda’s financial sector and highlights the growing role of African women in shaping the future of finance across the continent,” the central bank said. ALSO READ: New central bank governor outlines plan to strengthen financial stability Organised in partnership with Forvis Mazars, the 2026 awards recognised six individuals and institutions across banking, insurance, investment, financial technology and central banking. The AFIS award winners were selected by an independent jury of professionals and experts in the financial sector. Other award winners The other winners include Mary Vilakazi, Chief Executive Officer of South Africa's FirstRand Group, who received the African Banker Award. She was recognized for her strategic leadership of one of Africa's leading financial groups and her performance in a context of refocusing its activities. Jurie Strydom, CEO of Old Mutual, won the African Insurer Award. She was recognized for the strategic transformation undertaken at the helm of Old Mutual and the results achieved by the group in 2025. Manuel António Tiago Dias, Governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA), won the African Central Bank Governor Award in recognition of his work in promoting monetary stability in Angola and his career at the NBA. Wave, a Senegal-based mobile money company, won the African Disruptor Award. It was recognised for transforming access to financial services in West Africa through a mobile money model based on low fees and a simplified digital experience. Development Partners International (DPI) won the African Fund award in recognition of its contribution to financing the growth of African businesses and its impact on employment. Launched in 2021 by Jeune Afrique Media Group, with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), AFIS brings together financial sector leaders, regulators and policymakers to discuss the development of Africa's financial markets. Hakuziyaremye became Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda on February 25, 2025, making her the first woman to lead the institution. Before her appointment, she served as Deputy Governor from March 2021. She had previously served as Minister of Trade and Industry, a position she was appointed to in October 2018. Her career in finance spans several international institutions. She worked at the Bank of New York in Brussels for nearly four years before joining BNP Paribas Fortis, where she spent six years in the Financial Institutions Group. She later joined ING in London, where she served as Vice President for Financial Institutions and Financial Markets Risk Management. Hakuziyaremye holds a degree in Business Engineering, specialising in Finance and Marketing, from the Solvay Business School of the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium. She also holds a Certificate of Advanced Studies in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in the United States and is an alumna of the University of Oxford's Executive Public Leaders Programme.
