Equity Group CEO James Mwangi has been selected as one of the winners of the 2020 Oslo Business for Peace Award.
He was selected by four Nobel Prize Winners for his role in providing banking services to people who previously had limited access to them, and for bolstering Kenya’s GDP.
Announcing the news on September 9, the committee cited Mwangi’s exceptional entrepreneurship and his humanitarianism in giving him the award.
The CEO dedicated the award to the bank's customers and staff who he said had made it the most popular bank in Kenya.
“I dedicate this award to our staff and to the millions of our customers who have continuously inspired us by trusting and believing in our common purpose and dream, that together we can solve our problems by seeking innovative solutions anchored on shared value and prosperity,” said Mwangi.
“I share this award with our micro, small and medium entrepreneurs who wake up every day to create wealth and opportunities for our society. This Award is a great inspiration to all Africans to believe in their dreams and to pursue them with dedication and conviction that together, we can change our continent within our lifetime,” he added.
The bank has impacted millions of Kenyans through its foundation which delivers programs in education and leadership, food and agriculture, social protection, health, clean energy and the environment.
Mwangi also serves as the foundation's chairman and made a personal contribution of Ksh300 million towards the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2020 winners (Honourees) will be celebrated at the Business for Peace Summit in May 2021.
Coffee for Peace Co-Founder Felicitas “Joji” Bautista Pantoja was awarded alongside Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
Pantoja has dedicated her career to building peace in conflict zones and improving the lives of marginalised groups through economic stability while, Benioff is leading a revolution in the tech sector to create a more equal, fair and sustainable way of doing business.
In August, the Equity CEO was featured on the cover of the Forbes Africa magazine with the title "How to Build a Billion-Dollar Banking Empire".
