Ecobank MD, Gwendolyn Abunaw, emerges Personality of The Year.

This was during the 23rd edition of the prestigious, The Guardian Post Achievement Award. The event brought together several personalities from across the country. 

The Ecobank Cameroon MD was unveiled at the epic event, to the applause of guests, as 2025 Personality of The Year; for her penetrating economic and banking reforms, plus a Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, that made her the most defining character of 2025.

According to organisers of the event, Gwendolyn Abunaw clinched the distinction: “For demonstrating rare managerial savvy in the banking sector, promoting financial inclusion of women through Ecobank’s Elevate 2.0 Programmme and for constantly mentoring and empowering female entrepreneurs”.

Talking about Abunaw’s apex recognition among others, the President of the award jury, Theodore Mih Ndze, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Voice bi-weekly newspaper, said she is a “…shining example of dedication and impact”.

He noted that the Ecobank Cameroon MD “…embodies the values of integrity, innovation, and commitment to the greater good”.

Mih Ndze specified that, “…true achievement is measured not by personal gain, but by the lives touched and the communities uplifted and impacted”.

He also talked of Abunaw’s courage in a difficult economic context and her exceptional ability to address situations and deliver results. 

The award Jury President referenced the integrity of the award and the media organ, The Guardian Post, after which it is named as holding the unshaken view that “…recognition is not just about applause, it is about inspiring others to follow in the footsteps of those who lead with vision and purpose”.

He classed Abunaw among the very best the nation can boast of. Above all, he indicated that in 2025, the revered Ecobank Managing Director was in a class of her own. 

Mih Ndze stated that the Ecobank MD, “…represent the very best of what our nation wants and our people can achieve”.

 Mih Ndze explained that Abunaw was elevated to the prestigious fame and honour of Personality of The Year, by readers of The Guardian Post, which is the most widely read and regularly published newspaper in the CEMAC Sub-region.

He explained that the award jury, which he chaired, comprised civil society leaders, journalists and renowned jurists; compiled the votes with the Ecobank Cameroon boss getting the highest endorsements. 

The award Jury President praised the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Post, Kristian Ngah Christian, for ensuring that the jury worked in fairness and objectivity to ensure the credibility of the award.

“The Publisher’s role in sustaining this culture of recognition is invaluable, and his example reminds us that leadership is about building institutions that outlast individuals,” the award jury President stated.

Enter brain behind initiative

In a brief but irreplaceable intervention at the ceremony, Kristian Ngah Christian, who runs The Guardian Post daily newspaper, situated the context of the scheme. 

Ngah said The Guardian Post Achievement Award, on for the last 23 years, seeks to immortalise compatriots and foreigners who prioritise service to humanity.

Ngah also situated the bigger picture being to “promote national unity and social integration”. The crave, Ngah stated, justifies the staging of successive award ceremonies in towns and cities across all the country’s 10 Regions.

He cited former laureates, amongst them; H.E President Biya, The First Lady, Chantal Biya, PM Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute, former US Ambassador, Neils Marquardt, Rev Dieudonne Massi Gams, and Louis Paul Motaze.

Synopsis of Abunaw’s attractive factsheet 

Without being exhaustive but factual, Abunaw’s summit nomination and emergence as 2025 Personality of The Year is not an illusion or coincidence. 

Initiatives which she spearheaded and other undertakings in 2025, tell the story of the inspirational woman and leader she is. 

Among the many renowned things in her catalogue, which attracted readers of The Guardian Post across the globe, is her matchless leadership, which earned Ecobank, the Banker’s Awards at the close of 2025 in London, United Kingdom, UK.

When the recognition was presented in the economic capital, she had told journalists that: “This is more than just a trophy. It is an affirmation of our unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation and, above all, customer experience”. 

When the balance sheet of the Bank was published, records show that Abunaw guided the commercial bank to drastically up its profitability in 2025.

Beyond the figures that speak of the Bank’s comfort in the market place, Abunaw is also mentioned in golden letters for other initiatives and outreaches that power businesses, education and entrepreneurship.

As part of its Pan-African world view, Abunaw led Ecobank Cameroon in 2025 to carry out several inspiring social works. 

Among them were; the renovation of the building of EEC Petit Saker Primary School in Deido, Douala, Wouri Division of the Littoral Region.

When the financial institution observed Ecobank Day last year, Abunaw mobilised again to enhance investment in human capital development for the good of the country.

Then, she initiated the donation of a consignment of Information and Communication Technology, ICT tools, and didactics to the Government Inclusive Primary School Group I and II in Bali, Douala, Wouri Division.

When these items reached beneficiaries, she restated that it manifested Ecobank’s “…unwavering belief in the key role education plays in the development of our communities".

Through such initiatives, she has been a champion for building an inclusive society with interest in easing access to financial services and education for all.

The award-winning Bank executive is also present in the Artificial Intelligence, AI, arena to drive national change. 

Through the Ecobank Grand Conference, she launched the campaign to transforming the country’s education system through the use of AI. 

Still in 2025, Gwendolyn Abunaw stayed relevant through initiatives that prioritised empowering entrepreneurs and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, SMEs.

Through its pioneer “Ecobank Trade Expo”, Ecobank, under Abunaw’s directives, strengthened the capacity of hundreds of entrepreneurs on trade finance and its impact on economic growth. 

It was under the theme: “Unlocking Trade Power: Financing Solutions for Growth”. Navigating the complexities of modern trade and entrepreneurship were key issues addressed.

Abunaw had linked to such training in 2025, the need to promote economic empowerment, encourage job creation, and equip the next generation of entrepreneurs to succeed locally and internationally. 

“…we know the challenges businesses face in accessing finance and scaling operations. That is why we organised this forum, to share solutions that are available to help companies overcome barriers in trade,” the MD had stated.

Still in line with reshaping society and empowering people, Abunaw has gained admiration for developing Ecobank’s Ellevate 2.0; with interest in transforming the entrepreneurship prowess of women.

Abunaw liaised with the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, to push through the agenda. 

Thanks to the engagement, Cameroonian female entrepreneurs have been benefitting insights on networking, mentorship and other forms of support.

By the time such renewed interest was playing out, Abunaw had also counted gains made in 2024, before advancing along similar lines in 2025. 

Throughout last year, she placed accent on boosting inclusivity, to get as many women as possible to stay empowered in entreneurial undertakings.

But who is Abunaw?

With a career spanning decades, Abunaw is a product of the University of Buea, UB. She studied banking and finance in the institution, between 1995 and 1998. 

Records show that she worked with the Standard Chartered Bank briefly before leaving to further her studies in the United Kingdom.

She returned to the market place with a Master of Business Administration, MBA, in Finance from the London Metropolitan University. 

Abunaw started off as officer in charge of key customers at Ecobank Cameroon but moved to Citibank Cameroon before returning to the Pan-African bank as Key Account Manager. 

By 2011, she was again made member of the Bank’s Board in Cameroon. By 2014, Abunaw was already directing the Bank’s Board and was eventually promoted to the rank of Deputy Managing Director. 

Abunaw later rose to the rank of Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon. She continues to hold the record of the pioneer female leader of the financial institution. 

Since 2021, she has also been serving as CEMAC Cluster Head of Ecobank, overseeing all its subsidiaries in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States.

The holder of several awards, to which has just been added the prestigious 2025 The Guardian Post Personality of The Year Award, is also President of the Professional Association of Credit Institutions of Cameroon, APPECAM. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3818 of Monday June 15, 2026