Investors in Nigeria were shocked when central bank governor Lamido Sanusi was suspended in February. His likely successor, Godwin Emefiele, is a very different character, but he will be keen to prove he is no less independent.

Nigeria’s rapidly growing economy has increased its appeal to the world’s emerging market investors. But political tensions ahead of next year’s elections and failed reforms have exposed some glaring weaknesses.

Over the past two years banks have been hit by a huge wave of litigation relating to residential mortgages, interbank rates, consumer insurance and money laundering. Though lenders have largely managed to absorb the costs fairly easily, it seems that the regulators are not quite finished when it comes to dishing out fines.

With elections looming, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s next year as Nigeria’s finance minster promises to be even more demanding that usual. But she is determined to ensure that the country’s strong macroeconomic performance of recent years and reform agenda do not slip. 

Liberia’s economy has come a long way since its devastating civil war ended 11 years ago, but it remains one of the world’s poorest countries. Amara Konneh, who won The Banker’s African Finance Minister of the Year award for 2014, tells Paul Wallace how the Liberian government is trying to change that.

Brand valuations for US and European banks once again rose sharply. For emerging market lenders, the ranking looks less encouraging.

Europe’s equity capital markets picked up in 2013 after three years of declining volumes. Equity bankers are confident that this year will be just as busy, even if supply from Europe’s banks – traditionally the biggest issuers – wanes.

Francophone west Africa’s regional stock exchange, the BRVM, suffers from low turnover and a lack of listings. But its chief executive tells Paul Wallace he is determined to change that and bring about closer ties with Nigeria and Ghana’s stock markets.