July 15, 2015 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) has received an international award in recognition of its unique position as a leader in the financial services industry in the country.
The international award for ‘Excellence and Leadership’ was presented by the Global Trade Leaders’ Club to the bank’s Managing Director, Gbenga Alade, during a special award ceremony hosted in Madrid, Spain, last Monday.
Speaking at a presser at the bank’s headquarters on Wilberforce Street in Freetown yesterday, Mr. Alade expressed the bank’s delight to have received such a prestigious award, as well as happiness to be associated with the award givers.
“We received an award of excellence and leadership from the Global Trade Leaders’ Club in Spain last Monday. It is in recognition of what we have done in the Sierra Leonean economy,” he said. “We are happy to be recognised this way because international awards do not just come like that on a platter of gold, you must have worked for it. It is a big challenge because it is not enough to go to the top but to stay there.”
He stated that the bank was not expecting an award of this nature because the selection process, according to Global Trade Leaders’ Club, was very tough, but particular attention was paid to West Africa, especially Ebola-hit countries.
He described the Global Trade Leaders’ Club as one of integrity with thousands of members all over the world, and that on a yearly basis they present awards to companies in different countries that have distinguished themselves in their line of business.
Mr. Alade said it was a great honour that Sierra Leone has been put on the global map, which shows that in spite of the Ebola crisis something good was coming out of the country.
“We are happy that even in the midst of the Ebola crisis the Global Trade Leaders’ Club can find an institution worthy of an award in Sierra Leone. We are the first bank to win an internationally recognised award,” said the ace banker with a beam.
According to the GTBank Managing Director, during the ceremony companies in 27 countries, including Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, Congo, Georgia, Angola, Slovenia, Morocco, Iran, Cameroon, were awarded in different categories.
“We are the clear leader. We have the largest capital base which allows us to do large ticket sale transaction,” Mr. Alade added.