Advans Nigeria Bags Microfinance Bank of the Decade Award

By LOVETH AZODO,  Lagos

Advans La Fayette Microfinance Bank has emerged winner of the “Microfinance Bank of the Decade” award at the 2025 Edge Awards, held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The annual event, organised by Marketing Edge, celebrates outstanding achievements and innovation across Nigeria’s business landscape.

This year, the organisers recognised Advans Nigeria for its decade-long contribution to financial inclusion and its consistent delivery of customer-focused microfinance solutions.

Receiving the award, Elvis Kwabena Oheneba, Acting Managing Director/CEO of Advans La Fayette Microfinance Bank, described the recognition as a validation of the bank’s sustained efforts to serve Nigeria’s unbanked and underbanked population.

“We are immensely proud to receive this award, which reflects our ongoing commitment to pioneering financial solutions and putting our customers at the heart of everything we do,” Oheneba said. “This recognition is dedicated to our loyal customers and our dedicated staff who have made our journey possible.”

Also speaking, Kayode Abraham, Head of Marketing and Communications, said the award underscores Advans Nigeria’s innovative use of digital technology in expanding access to finance for individuals and small businesses.

“The ‘Microfinance Bank of the Decade’ award reaffirms our dedication to providing exceptional customer experiences while leveraging innovation to deepen financial inclusion,” Abraham noted.

Over the years, Advans Nigeria has built a strong footprint across the country, offering a wide range of services including savings, current and fixed deposit accounts, loans, insurance, mobile and agency banking, USSD and debit cards.

The bank’s adoption of technology and strategic partnerships has enabled it to reach thousands of customers, particularly in underserved communities.

As a member of the Advans Group, which operates in six African countries, the Nigerian subsidiary contributes to the group’s broader mission of expanding access to formal financial services for underserved and unbanked populations. Collectively, the group serves over one million clients with the support of more than 7,000 employees across its markets.

The award, stakeholders say, not only highlights Advans Nigeria’s achievements but also reflects the growing importance of microfinance institutions in strengthening small business resilience and driving inclusive economic growth across the country.