By: Tijani Salako.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Mr Segun Agbaje, has been honoured with the 2025 Banking Pioneer Award(BPA) at the Texcellence Conference Awards in recognition of his role in driving digital transformation in Nigeria’s banking industry.

The award was presented by CWG Plc at the Texcellence Conference, a technology focused platform that brings together industry leaders shaping Africa’s digital future.

Chairman of CWG Plc, Phillip Obioha, said the awards recognise organisations and individuals contributing to Africa’s digital competitiveness through innovation, infrastructure development and collaboration across sectors.

According to him, the awards spotlight leaders who are building critical systems that enable secure digital platforms, financial inclusion and scalable enterprise growth across the continent.

The 2025 edition of the conference was held under the theme “Future Forward Africa: Leveraging Technology for Global Competitiveness.”

Obioha explained that the Banking Pioneer Award celebrates visionary leaders who have reshaped Nigeria’s financial services industry and strengthened Africa’s position in global banking.

“These are leaders who have transformed how millions of Africans access and engage with financial services by building institutions that prioritise innovation, excellence and trust,” he said.

The organisers noted that Agbaje’s recognition reflects nearly three decades of leadership in the banking sector and his role in advancing technology-driven financial services.

Mr Agbaje joined Guaranty Trust Bank in 1991 and has played a significant role in the bank’s growth into one of Africa’s leading financial institutions.
Under his leadership, the bank pioneered the *737# USSD banking service, a digital platform that expanded access to financial services for millions of Nigerians and strengthened financial inclusion.

He also oversaw the launch of GTWorld, described as Africa’s first biometric mobile banking application, further positioning GTBank as a leader in digital banking innovation.

The Texcellence Awards Committee said the recognition highlights Agbaje’s long-standing commitment to technology-led transformation and his role in repositioning GTCO from a traditional commercial banking institution into a diversified financial services group anchored on digital infrastructure and customer-focused innovation.