RMB Nigeria has won Merchant Bank of the Year for the eighth time at the 2026 BusinessDay Bank and Other Financial Institutions Awards, along with the Deal Advisory Excellence of the Year honour. The eighth Merchant Bank of the Year award represents a significant milestone for the bank and reflects its consistent performance, innovative approach and strategic leadership across Nigeria's corporate and institutional market. The Deal Advisory Excellence award recognises the depth of the bank's sector expertise, market insight and execution capabilities in supporting clients through complex transactions and critical strategic decisions.
Bayo Ajayi, Chief Executive Officer of RMB Nigeria, said the awards reflect the strength of client partnerships and the consistency with which the bank delivers on its commitments. "Being named Merchant Bank of the Year for the eighth time is a significant achievement, and one we share with the clients who continue to trust us with their most important financial and strategic decisions," he said. The bank said it remains focused on combining deep market understanding, innovative thinking and the strength of the RMB network to help clients navigate complexity, unlock opportunities and pursue sustainable growth.
Chidi Iwuchukwu, Executive Director and Head of Investment Banking, Broader Africa, RMB Nigeria, said successful deal advisory goes beyond structuring and executing transactions. "It requires a deep understanding of our clients' ambitions, the sectors in which they operate and the market dynamics shaping their decisions. This recognition underscores our commitment to bringing together the right expertise, commercial insight and execution discipline for complex mandates," he said. The dual honours reinforce RMB Nigeria's position as a trusted partner to corporate and institutional clients, drawing on capabilities across investment banking, corporate and institutional banking, markets and strategic advisory.
The awards underscore RMB Nigeria's long-term focus on creating value for clients while contributing to the continued development of Nigeria's financial markets and broader business ecosystem. RMB Nigeria Limited, a member of the FirstRand Group, is a leading African Corporate and Investment Bank that provides clients with innovative, value-added solutions across advisory, funding, trading, corporate banking and principal investing. In related news, RMB Nigeria was recently awarded M&A Deal of the Year 2025 by the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, recognising its role as exclusive financial adviser to Helios Investment Partners on the US$583 million acquisition of Axxela Limited.