Dr. Nii Kotei Dzani, Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Groupe Ideal, was voted the Banking & Finance Entrepreneur for the year 2015 at the sixth Ghana Entrepreneur Awards held at the Banquet Hall State House on April 29, 2016.

Organized by Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the award was in recognition of his visionary leadership, entrepreneurship acumen as well as his immense contributions to the Banking and Finance industry.

The Ghana Entrepreneur Awards is held annually to recognize and honour Ghanaians and Non-Ghanaians Entrepreneurs that have achieved strategic and sustained positive impact on the economy, community and society as a whole. The theme for this year’s awards was “The role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth and Private Sector Development”.

Dr. Dzani is an entrepreneur and businessman par excellence, with extensive business experience as an Economist and Business Owner with a proven record of successful entrepreneurship with the establishment of over 8 companies within five years. His desire is to transform Groupe Ideal into a world-class conglomerate.

The former Barclays Bank and Canal Capital Executive was also voted Emerging Man of the year 2014 by Accra-based VIASAT1 Television. Dr. Dzani has a rich and enviable experience in strategic innovation, business strategy and marketing; branding and human resource management coupled with his in-depth expertise in SME advisory service, asset management, development and financing of projects. In addition, he has carried out extensive research on microfinance and commercial banking.

Dr. Dzani is an accomplished individual, a motivated self-starter and excellent negotiator with the credibility to engage and influence business at all levels. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and an Honorary Doctorate from Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma, USA. He also holds an MBA in Corporate Governance & Finance from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. He is currently undertaking a professional law degree.

In 2009, he established a consultancy firm to advise banks and other financial institutions on financial models and risk management. Ideal Finance was subsequently established in 2010 offering money lending services and has grown to become a finance house. Under his able leadership, Ideal Financial Holdings acquired a majority share ownership of Ezi Savings and loans in 2014 which saw the it rebranded to FirsTrust Savings and loans, saving the jobs of over 200 Ghanaians, and also enhancing confidence in the financial sector.

Dr. Dzani through his foundation, Tsatse Foundation has undertaken many social interventions and Corporate Social Responsibility activities including Educational scholarships for needy and brilliant students, support for Otumfuo Educational Foundation, support for strategic state institutions like Ghana Police Service, 37 Military Hospital, sponsorship of corporate events and many more. The foundation regularly supports various orphanage homes across the country.