By taking on their non-performing loans, Nigeria’s state-owned bank, Amcon, has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the country’s banks are up and running again just two years after their crisis. However, its chief executive is keen to stress that its work is far from over.

Finance minister Tendai Biti has helped turn around Zimbabwe’s economy since taking office in 2009. But he faces a tough task trying to lure foreign investors to a country whose politics are still so messy. 

African countries are being held back by a lack of integration across the continent. Some say it is time to redraw the map by breaking down borders and deepening regional blocs, which will enable free trade to flourish. 

Economically, Africa has been growing apace according to Donald Kaberuka, the president of the African Development Bank. But socially the continent is still struggling. The north African uprisings show that now, more than ever, it is time to focus on what Africans actually want.

Mozambique’s capital and financial markets remain small and undeveloped, a situation that will have to change if the country is to sustain its rapid growth and diversify its economy.

Egypt’s banks faced the most trying of conditions early this year with the overthrow of president Hosni Mubarak and the subsequent economic collapse. But Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, head of the Commercial International Bank says that businesses should thrive in a more open political system.

Mozambique’s economy is booming and unlikely to slow down anytime soon. But the majority of the growth is down to its abundant natural resources, which has not trickled down to the bulk of the population. The government is now focusing on boosting the rest of the economy.

Ghana’s banks have benefited from a booming economy over the past 18 months, but they may have to start adapting to lower interest rates by expanding their capital markets services and offering more sophisticated products – or risk being bought out in a wave of consolidation.