The Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), Soraya Munyana Hakuziyaremye, has won the African Woman in Finance Award at the 2026 Africa Financial Summit (AFIS).


In its announcement, the central bank said the recognition honoured her leadership and efforts to advance financial inclusion. It also highlighted her contribution to Rwanda’s financial sector and the role of African women in shaping financial services across the continent.


The awards ceremony formed part of the summit held on 3 and 4 November in Luanda, Angola. AFIS scheduled the presentation of the awards for 3 November.


Recognition for women in financial leadership


The African Woman in Finance Award recognises women leading public and private financial institutions. Its assessment criteria cover career achievements, operational leadership, influence within the financial community and contributions to financial inclusion.


It is one of six AFIS award categories, organised in partnership with Forvis Mazars. According to the organisers, recipients are selected by a jury of financial industry professionals and experts.


The other categories recognise achievements in banking, insurance, investment funds, financial innovation and central bank leadership. The African Woman in Finance Award is separate from the African Central Bank Governor Award.


A career spanning banking and public service


Hakuziyaremye became Rwanda’s first female central bank governor in 2025. She had previously served as deputy governor, having joined the institution in March 2021.


Before moving to the central bank, she was Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry from October 2018 to March 2021. Her responsibilities included overseeing the implementation of the Made in Rwanda policy.


Her earlier career included a vice-presidential role in the Financial Institutions and Financial Markets Risk Department at ING Bank in London between 2016 and 2018.


She also held risk management positions at BNP Paribas, Fortis Bank and the Bank of New York Mellon, and served as a senior adviser to Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.


In September 2025, Hakuziyaremye became the first woman to chair the Alliance for Financial Inclusion. On taking the role, she identified fintech policy, sustainable finance and the effective use of financial services as priorities for the organisation’s work.


Rwanda’s financial inclusion progress


The award comes against a backdrop of expanding access to financial services in Rwanda.


The Rwanda FinScope 2024 Survey found that 96 per cent of adults, approximately 7.8 million people, were financially included, compared with 93 per cent in 2020. This measure covers the use of both formal and informal financial products and services.


Formal financial inclusion rose from 77 per cent to 92 per cent over the same period. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning attributed growth in formal non-bank services primarily to mobile money, insurance and pension products.


However, the proportion of adults classified as banked remained at 22 per cent, illustrating the substantial role of services outside conventional banking.



Summit focuses on financing African economies


The 2026 summit took place under the theme Making Capital Count: Unlocking Growth Through African Finance.


Co-hosted by Jeune Afrique Media Group and the International Finance Corporation, with Angola as the host country, the event brought together financial institutions, investors, technology companies, regulators and policymakers.