Advans La Fayette Microfinance Bank has been named Microfinance Bank of the Decade at the 2025 edition of The Edge Awards, held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, in recognition of its sustained leadership in financial inclusion and customer-focused innovation.
The award, which celebrates institutions that have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and consistency across Nigeria’s business landscape, acknowledged Advans Nigeria’s decade-long record of empowering individuals and small businesses through accessible and technology-driven financial solutions.
Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Elvis Kwabena Oheneba, described the honour as a testament to the institution’s commitment to deepening financial inclusion across Nigeria.
“We are immensely proud to receive this award, which reflects our ongoing commitment to pioneering financial solutions and putting our customers at the centre of everything we do,” Oheneba said. “This recognition is dedicated to our loyal customers and our dedicated staff who have made our journey possible. We also thank Marketing Edge for acknowledging our efforts over the past decade.”
Also speaking, Kayode Abraham, Head of Marketing and Communications at Advans La Fayette, said the award reaffirmed the bank’s position as a leader in microfinance innovation, adding that its strategic use of digital technology had transformed customer experience and expanded access to underserved populations.
“The ‘Microfinance Bank of the Decade’ award underscores our innovative approach to microfinancing, leveraging digital tools and forward-thinking strategies to meet the evolving needs of our clients,” Abraham said. “It reinforces our mission to build inclusive financial systems that support micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises across Nigeria.”
Over the past decade, Advans Nigeria has broadened its portfolio of services to include savings and current accounts, loans, fixed deposits, insurance, mobile and agency banking, USSD transactions, and debit cards — offering flexible and accessible options for individuals and businesses. Through digital innovation and partnerships, the bank has strengthened its capacity to reach rural and urban communities alike.
A member of the global Advans Group, which operates in six African countries, Advans Nigeria contributes to a network that serves more than one million clients with the support of over 7,000 employees worldwide. The group’s mission is to expand access to formal financial services for the unbanked and underserved, helping to drive inclusive economic growth across developing markets.
The recognition at The Edge Awards, industry observers noted, further cements Advans Nigeria’s reputation as a trusted development finance institution and a catalyst for economic empowerment through responsible and innovative microfinance.
