Hosted at the stunning Emara Ole Sereni in Nairobi, the inaugural CFO East Africa Awards, dubbed the “Oscars of Finance”, was a remarkable evening dedicated to celebrating excellence and leadership within the finance profession.
Guests at the 2025 CFO Awards arrived in dazzling evening gowns and sleek formal wear, with the gentlemen in crisp tuxedos and the ladies radiating glamour in elegant gowns. The black-tie dress code set a sophisticated tone for the night, complemented by an atmosphere filled with laughter, fine dining, refreshing drinks and, as Kenyans fondly say, good vibes all around.
The ceremony was opened by the host and MC, Emmanuel Kisiangani, whose witty humour had the audience in fits of laughter and set the tone for an unforgettable night of celebration, connection and entertainment.
Shamsi Music serenaded the room with soulful, captivating live performances, while comedian Amandeep Jagde delivered a set that left attendees roaring with laughter. In true finance community spirit, the room erupted into enthusiastic applause as nominees took to the stage to receive their recognition trophies, honouring their outstanding contributions across sectors and organisations.
The first group of winners accepted their awards to resounding cheers, while guests enjoyed their starters amid lively conversations, shared laughter and countless selfies that captured the joy and prestige of the evening.
CFO of the Year: Dilip Pal leads the region
The evening’s top award went to Dilip Pal, Safaricom group CFO, who was named East Africa’s 2025 CFO of the Year. In addition, he walked off with the CFO of the Year for Kenya title. He also received the Strategy Execution Award for his exceptional leadership in steering Safaricom through a period of bold expansion and transformative operational change. The trophy was presented by Edith Chumba, head of wealth and retail banking at Standard Chartered.
In his acceptance speech, Dilip expressed heartfelt thanks to his team, the company and his family for their unwavering support. He reflected on the considerable emotional and financial challenges of Safaricom’s expansion into Ethiopia, including the substantial financial investment required.
Dilip’s hands-on approach in Safaricom’s greenfield entry into Ethiopia was pivotal, including securing a $400 million bridge loan in just one month to fund the telco’s licence fee.
“I’m just a recipient of this award on behalf of the team sitting there. I want to thank them for their hard work and dedication,” he said. “I also want to thank the company, because their support is what makes moments like this possible. And of course, to the bankers in this room who helped us along the way, thank you.”
Country Champions: Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda award winners
Dipen Patel, financial controller at Kioo, was named the CFO of the Year for Tanzania, recognised for securing a major financing package and spearheading a groundbreaking sustainability shift in the manufacturing sector.
Titus Langat, former CFO of Ecobank Rwanda, earned Rwanda’s CFO of the Year honour for his leadership in steering the bank back to profitability with an innovative digital banking strategy.
Andrew Bugembe, CFO of MTN Uganda, took home the Uganda CFO of the year title. Celebrated for his strategic leadership during the company’s IPO and subsequent secondary market listing, he also earned the Finance Transformation Award. The award, presented by Capital Markets Uganda CEO Josephine Ossiya, acknowledged Andrew’s role in leading his company through a transformative process, emphasising the importance of sustainable growth and cost-efficiency.
“The world tends to focus on market share and subscriber growth,” Andrew noted in his acceptance speech. “But at the end of the day, if your core revenue is rising, you should be delivering that growth at a lower cost. Transformation is how we secure sustainability.”
High-Performance Team Award
The High-Performance Team Award went to Hilda Bujiku, finance director at Vodacom Tanzania, for her leadership in turning around Vodacom Tanzania’s performance from loss-making to a period of remarkable growth. The award, proudly sponsored by Standard Chartered, was presented by Birju Sanghrajka, head of coverage at Standard Chartered.
"This is not only a personal achievement but a reflection of the dedicated service, visionary leadership and unwavering support of my colleagues,” Hilda said, humbly accepting the award. “It is the team that makes this possible, and I am incredibly proud of them.”
Compliance & Governance Award
The Compliance & Governance Award went to Yusuf Omari, finance director at Absa Bank Kenya, in recognition of his significant contribution to building and implementing systems that ensure ethical and principled business practices within the organisation. PwC Kenya’s Assurance Partner, Akinyemi Awodumila, presented the trophy. Yusuf graciously acknowledged the collective effort behind his success.
“I am deeply grateful for this recognition. This is a reflection of the hard work of many individuals, and I would like to thank the organisers, our sponsors and the entire team for their support,” Yusuf said.
Beyond Finance Award
Following a musical break by Shamsi Music, which filled the room with the sweet sounds of live jazz and African music, the Beyond Finance Award was presented to Dennis Musau, CFVO of Stanbic Bank Kenya.
This award, sponsored by EY, recognised Dennis for building a library and green block for Kaivisi Primary School, his alma mater, to celebrate his 40th birthday.
“We all contribute to our communities in different ways,” Dennis said. “Seeing the impact on someone’s life is what drives me to continue.”
Finance & Technology Award
The Finance & Technology Award went to Hosea Kiprop, group CFO at AAR Insurance, for his leadership in driving a self-financed digital transformation within the company. Presented by Edwin Mucai, chief risk officer at Stanbic Bank Kenya, the award recognised Hosea for automating financial reporting and significantly improving the organisation’s capital position.
Hosea expressed his gratitude for the support of his entire team, particularly for their work in executing the company’s strategy, which included a significant investment in technology to reduce constituents.
"There are so many people behind this moment, especially our team,” he said. “It is a collective achievement, not a personal one, and I deeply appreciate all of you.”
Finance & ESG Award
Another standout of the evening was Jackline Aluda, group CFO at Cold Solutions Kenya, who won the Finance & ESG Award, presented by Absa Bank Kenya's marketing and corporate affairs director, Mwihaki Wachira. Jackline was recognised for her leadership in integrating ESG principles into Cold Solutions' financial strategies, helping the company secure Africa’s first cold-storage LEED Gold certification through the installation of a 1.4 MWp solar PV system.
“This award is not just for me,” Jackline said. “It’s for the hidden hands behind my success, and for the giants who have supported me along the way. Thank you for your guidance and support. I believe that the numbers I work with tell a story, a story of responsible investment that can positively impact society.”
After Jackline’s win, dinner was served, offering a chance for attendees to connect and share experiences. Comedian Amandee Jagde took to the stage, entertaining finance leaders as they relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
Young CFO of the Year
The Young CFO of the Year title went to Bilaal Ramjaun, CFO at AzamPay. Presented to him by Edith Chumba, head of wealth and retail banking at Standard Chartered, the award recognised his transformative work in reshaping AzamPay’s pricing strategy and sales structure.
In his acceptance speech, Bilaal expressed deep gratitude for the support of his mentors and colleagues over the past 18 years. He highlighted the opportunities provided to him by influential figures in the profession, and the ways in which those opportunities had shaped his career.
“Being nominated and now winning this award is truly the cherry on top. I’m grateful to God and to this community for recognising my contributions to the profession,” Bilaal said.
As the evening drew to a close, glasses clinked and cameras flashed, capturing the celebratory mood of a night that honoured the outstanding contributions of East Africa’s finance leaders, a night where excellence and celebration went hand-in-hand.
The awards were sponsored by Absa Bank Kenya, EY, PwC Kenya, Stanbic Bank Kenya and Standard Chartered.
Table sponsors included AAR Insurance, ALN, Central Bank of Kenya, Cold Solutions Kenya, Deloitte, EABL, Equity Bank, GardaWorld Security, ICEA Lion Group, Kenya Power, Safaricom, SBSL, SHOFCO and Yellow Card.
