Nigeria's Adebayo Wins Top Prize at The Trading Awards Africa 2026 in Nairobi

Nigerian forex trader Emeka Adebayo took home the Grand Prix award at The Trading Awards Africa 2026 on Thursday, defeating more than 3,400 nominees from 18 countries at a ceremony held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.

The Grand Prix Goes to Nigeria

Adebayo, who manages a $12 million portfolio for Lagos-based hedge fund Sentinel Capital, was recognised for achieving a 47 percent return on equity over the past 12 months while maintaining one of the lowest drawdown rates in the industry. He edged out South Africa's Priya Naidoo and Kenya's James Mwangi, the two other finalists in the top category.

The award caps a remarkable turnaround for Adebayo, who nearly lost his trading licence in 2024 following a leveraged position that wiped out 18 percent of client funds. "I changed my entire approach after that," Adebayo told reporters in Nairobi. "Risk management is everything."

Kenya Dominates Infrastructure Categories

Kenyan platforms swept the technology and infrastructure awards, reflecting the country's emergence as East Africa's fintech hub. Nairobi-based broker Fika Markets won Best Trading Platform for the second consecutive year, while BitPlus Kenya took the award for Most Innovative Crypto Integration.

Three other Kenyan firms were honoured in supporting categories, including Nairobi's Altica Academy, which was named Best Trading Education Provider. The concentration of Kenyan winners marks a shift from last year's awards, when South African firms dominated the infrastructure categories.

Category Winners by Region

The awards covered six categories spanning retail and institutional trading, technology, education, and social impact.

• Grand Prix — Emeka Adebayo, Nigeria
• Best Institutional Trader — Priya Naidoo, South Africa
• Best Retail Trader — James Mwangi, Kenya
• Best Trading Platform — Fika Markets, Kenya
• Most Innovative Crypto Integration — BitPlus Kenya
• Best Trading Education Provider — Altica Academy, Kenya

South Africa Reclaims Institutional Crown

Despite losing the Grand Prix, South Africa dominated the institutional categories. Priya Naidoo of Johannesburg's Meridian Asset Management was named Best Institutional Trader after delivering consistent returns across commodity and equity derivatives. The firm also won Best Risk Management Framework, beating five other nominees.

South African regulators were quick to note the achievement. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority said in a statement that the awards reflected "the strength of South Africa's talent pipeline and regulatory framework."

Egypt and Morocco Break Through

North Africa had reason to celebrate as Cairo-based trader Omar Hassan claimed the Best Emerging Market Trader award. Hassan, who specialises in oil futures and currency pairs involving the Egyptian pound, returned 31 percent for clients in a year marked by historic currency volatility.

Morocco's Casablanca Finance Authority was recognised as the Most Supportive Regulatory Environment for the second time in three years, beating the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission.

What Comes Next

The Trading Awards Africa, now in its seventh year, attracted 12,400 attendees in person and another 84,000 streaming through its digital platform — a 22 percent increase from 2025. Organisers said the next cycle opens for nominations in September, with the 2027 ceremony expected to return to Lagos.

For Adebayo, the win brings immediate benefits: a $50,000 prize and a three-month secondment with a London-based prime brokerage. But he downplayed the personal honours. "The real story is that African traders are competing at the highest levels globally," he said. "We are just getting started."