Monrovia – A Liberian Corporate Banker, Mr. Youssouf Barry, has been awarded the prestigious Nigeria Institute of Credit Administration (ICA), Industry Award 2020 for his level of integrity, hard work, dedication and commitment in strengthening the Banking Industry. Mr. Barry was awarded the prestigious ICA award along with several other high-profiled credit industry gurus from Nigeria, Ghana and other places. He breaks the record as the first Liberian to bag such international award from the ICA since its founding in 1996.
Every year, the ICA recognizes top-level corporate personalities who, by virtue of their positions, encouraged, approved supported and supervised the effective and efficient use of credit to expand and grow businesses through their outgoing year.
The ICA is committed to bringing changes to the face and habit of credit business at all levels in Nigeria and influence structures of risk measurement to protect the item on the balance sheet called “accounts receivable.”
Delivering the award to Mr. Barry through a Zoom virtual meeting, ICA’s head and principal registrar, Dr. Chris Onalo said he is very impressed with the level of work Barry is doing in the banking industry in Liberia. He called on him to intensify his effort now that has been enlisted as one of the Fellows of Institute of Credit Administration (FICA).
Speaking to this newspaper, Barry thanked the ICA for the award noting that he is entirely honored and humbled by the recognition. “I am really excited about this award; to be selected among thousands of bankers in Liberia and the world as Credit Manager of the Year 2020 is a blessing.”
He added, “Integrity, commitment and diligence have always been my walking stick.”
Before this time, Barry has been a member of the Institute of Credit Administration “MICA”, since 2017 in Nigeria and a Fellow of the Global Academy of Finance and Management (GAFM) based in Colorado, the United States of America.
Youssouf Barry is a Certified Chartered International Banker and Financial Analyst with over nine years of professional experience gained through consistent employment and schooling mainly in Liberia and the diaspora. He holds a post-graduate degree in Business Administration from Cuttington University, a BBA in Accounting from the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), along with other high standing certificates and training in International Financial Reporting Standards, Financial Analysis and Decision Making, Environnemental & Social Management System (ESMS) and Credit Risk Management with the Banking Institute of Liberia.
Fellow Youssouf currently serves as Head of Commercial and Credit Banking at Afriland First Bank with oversight responsibility on Credit and Credit Management. He is a skilled and experienced credit administrator with excellent budgeting, banking, coaching, credit analysis and strong financial management, professional background.
Besides corporate banking, he has initiated and sponsored several humanitarian works in Liberia. He is the board chairman of the Atlantic Vocational Training Institute, which is providing comprehensive career-focused education and training to Liberian youths.