Chukwuma Soludo, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, tells James Eedes of a bold plan to raise $1bn for his brainchild – the Africa Financing Corporation.

Economic reform is transforming Nigeria, not least in the banking sector, but will the programme survive a change of government? Neil Tyler reports.

Unbanked and underbanked populations of the world are in the sights of companies developing mobile-based banking services. Wendy Atkins reports on the latest services to be launched.

The current Zambian case not withstanding, most distressed debt traders form a valuable part of the financial system.

The viability of capital markets in African countries is looking more promising, underlined by a successful bond issue denominated in naira by the African Development Bank. Edward Russell-Walling reports.

Algeria has lightened its debt burden and foreign investors at last seem keen to invest in subsidiaries and privatisations, write Jon Marks and Nadine Marroushi.

Africa’s home-financing sector is generally in its infancy. The exceptions are South Africa, Ghana and a handful of east African nations. Cas Coovadia highlights the initiatives in progress.

The Banker heralds the world’s best central bank governors who have stuck to their guns when under fire, whether it be encouraging diversification, controlling inflation or fighting off the governmental propensity for meddling.

The International Union for Housing Finance has an important role to play in Asia and Africa, where there’s little penetration by formal sources of funding for housing, says its president, Renu Karnad.

Africa is a real banking market with real potential and there is nothing philanthropic about Barclays’ activities there, writes John Varley. He outlines particular areas that his banking group is committed to developing and region-specific issues that must be addressed.