Africa Finance Corporation Receives 13 Awards for Transactions Spanning Energy, Transport, Industry and Finance
Why it Matters
AFC’s recognition for the Kano–Maradi railway places rail financing within a wider infrastructure investment agenda that spans transport, energy, industry and capital markets. For West Africa, the project is significant because it supports cross-border connectivity between Nigeria and Niger and strengthens the role of rail corridors in regional trade and logistics.
The broader award set also points to the growing importance of diversified African infrastructure finance. Alongside project finance awards, AFC was recognised for syndicated loans, sustainability-linked funding, Islamic finance, hybrid bonds and Angola’s Samurai bond, underscoring how infrastructure delivery increasingly depends on access to deep, flexible and international capital pools.
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the continent’s infrastructure solutions provider, has received 13 industry honours at the EMEA Finance Awards, recognising transactions across energy security, connectivity, industrialisation and long-term capital mobilisation in Africa.
Among the award-winning transactions was AFC’s financing for the Kano–Maradi railway, a strategic transport corridor linking Nigeria and Niger. The project received the Best Rail Deal award and forms part of AFC’s wider infrastructure financing portfolio across the continent.
Other recognised transactions included AFC’s financing for the Dangote Refinery, described by AFC as the world’s largest single-train refining complex, as well as the Cabeolica wind and battery storage project in Cape Verde. The awards also recognised AFC financing for Nigeria LNG and Côte d’Ivoire’s road programme.
AFC was also recognised for capital markets activity, including its debut sustainability-linked loan, its US$500 million perpetual hybrid bond, and Angola’s debut ¥40 billion Samurai bond guaranteed by AFC. In addition, AFC was named Best Borrower in EMEA, reflecting the Corporation’s market access and diversified funding platform.
Together, the awards reflect AFC’s role in developing and financing infrastructure intended to support economic growth across Africa. They also point to the Corporation’s position as a global borrower, with diversified funding solutions across international capital markets and continued investor confidence in its credit profile, strategy and development mandate.
Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC, said: “At AFC, we believe prosperity is intentional. It is the product of deliberate choices to align capital, infrastructure, industry and markets in ways that create productive jobs, retain more value within African economies, strengthen competitiveness and advance our economic sovereignty. These awards reflect the progress that can be achieved when long-term capital, strategic partnerships and disciplined execution come together behind transformative projects. They recognise the dedication of our teams and partners, and the growing confidence of global investors in Africa’s ability to execute and deliver the infrastructure and industrial ecosystems that underpin long-term growth and prosperity.”
Project Finance Awards Received
- Best Chemical Deal – Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals’ revolving club working capital, bridge and supply chain financing
- Best Infrastructure Deal – Côte d’Ivoire’s 540km road development and improvement project
- Best Natural Gas Deal – Nigeria LNG’s corporate term loan and revolving credit facility for cleaner energy projects
- Best Natural Resources Deal – FG Gold’s Baomahun gold mine project in Sierra Leone
- Best Power Deal – Aksa Enerji’s 250MW combined-cycle gas power plant in Senegal
- Best Rail Deal – Kano–Maradi 378km railway project in Nigeria
- Best Wind Farm – Cabeolica wind farm and battery storage expansion project in Cape Verde
EMEA Achievement Awards Received
- Best Borrower in EMEA – AFC Treasury & Funding Team
- Best Supranational Syndicated Loan – US$1.5 billion syndicated loan
- Best Sustainability Loan in EMEA – AED937.5 million debut sustainability-linked loan
- Best Supranational Islamic Facility – US$400 million Commodity Murabaha facility
- Best Supranational Bond – US$500 million perpetual hybrid bond
- Best Samurai Bond – Angola’s ¥40 billion debut issuance
