Yahya Abu El-Fotouh, CEO and Managing Director of Housing and Development Bank (HDB), has received the AFASU Golden Award for “Man of the Year – Inspirational Leader” in the finance and economics sector, in recognition of a banking career spanning more than four decades and his contributions to the development of banking, risk management and credit.
The award was presented during a meeting held at the headquarters of Housing and Development Bank, where Dr. Hossam Darwish, President of the African-Asian Union (AFASU), presented Abu El-Fotouh with the award shield and certificate of recognition. The ceremony was attended by members of the union’s Board of Trustees, along with a number of senior leaders from Housing and Development Bank and AFASU.
Dr. Hossam Darwish said that the selection of Yahya Abu El-Fotouh for the award recognizes his extensive banking career and his contributions to banking development, institutional development, risk management and credit, as well as his role in a number of prominent banking initiatives.
For his part, Abu El-Fotouh expressed his pride in receiving the honor and his appreciation for the African-Asian Union and everyone involved in the award. He noted that the recognition represents an acknowledgment of a professional journey shared with numerous leaders, colleagues and teams, emphasizing that the achievements made throughout his career were the result of collective work and continuous cooperation.
He added that banking extends beyond achieving financial results and performance indicators, emphasizing its broader role in supporting the Egyptian economy and serving customers and society.
Abu El-Fotouh also stressed that investing in people, developing professional capabilities and preparing new generations with knowledge, experience and confidence are essential foundations for sustainable success. He further highlighted the importance of creating a work environment that encourages learning, development and innovation.
The institutional framework of the African-Asian Union (AFASU) traces its roots to the Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organization (AAPSO), whose establishment was associated with the Afro-Asian solidarity movement that gained momentum following the 1955 Bandung Conference. AAPSO was subsequently established in Cairo in 1958.
AFASU was established in 2020 and works to support cooperation, solidarity and development among countries across Africa and Asia.
The “Man of the Year – Inspirational Leader” award is part of the AFASU Golden Awards, which recognize prominent figures and leaders for their contributions to leadership, development, innovation, excellence and sustainable development.
Previous recipients have included Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities and former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
