Windhoek: The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has been honored with the 2026 Institutional Leadership Award by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), while its Principal Economist, Sesilia Nekwaya-Okafor, was awarded the 2026 Technical Leadership Award. These accolades were presented during the 2026 AFI Global Policy Forum held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

According to Namibia Press Agency, BoN announced that the Institutional Leadership Award acknowledges AFI member institutions for their leadership within the network. This includes active engagement, technical contributions to financial inclusion, thought leadership, and participation on global platforms. The award was accepted by BoN Deputy Governor Leonie Dunn, who is also a member of the AFI Board of Directors.

Nekwaya-Okafor's recognition comes from her technical contributions to AFI's Financial Inclusion Data and Impact Working Group (FIDIWG), where she serves as co-chairperson and Gender Focal Point Lead. The Bank explained that AFI's Technical Leadership Awards recognize individual excellence in technical leadership and expertise within the network's working groups.

BoN has been actively involved with AFI since 2009, engaging in the alliance's technical and policy platforms. Namibia's commitment to the network was further solidified in 2025 when BoN co-hosted the AFI Global Policy Forum in Swakopmund, attracting over 700 policymakers, regulators, and financial sector stakeholders from 61 countries.

Speaking after the Bank's delegation returned from Papua New Guinea, BoN Governor Ebson Uanguta expressed pride in the institution and its staff being recognized globally. He emphasized the importance of Namibia's contributions to international financial inclusion policy through sharing knowledge, experience, and practical solutions.

Uanguta urged the Bank's AFI team to continue leveraging international platforms to gain insights from peers and contribute Namibia's expertise to global policy discussions.