On 29 October 2024, Guavapay’s Elkhan Nasibov was presented with the Freedom of the City of London. At a beautiful ceremony, attended by the Lord Mayor, Elkhan made history by becoming the first civilian Azerbaijani citizen to receive this once-in-a-lifetime recognition. This is a significant milestone for the Guavapay community and we are brimming with pride.
10/30/2024
The Tradition of The Freedom of the City of London
The Freedom of the City of London is a title with a rich history, dating back to its inception in 1237. Initially, this title was granted to people of commerce, awarding them privileges such as local tax exemption and the right to drive their sheep across London Bridge to sell on the other side of the Thames. This practice helped establish the city as a commercial hub.
Of course, the Freedom of the City of London has changed significantly since then, but the prestige and legacy attached to the practice has persisted. Serving as a symbol of excellence and service while embodying the values of civic pride and leadership, recipients are acknowledged for their accomplishments and their commitment to enriching the lives of others. Every honoured member helps reinforce the city’s historical significance as the centre for innovation and diversity.
From businessmen, politicians, scientists, artists and sportspeople, The Freedom of the City has been granted to notable individuals such as Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, Morgan Freeman and Harry Kane. For a member of Guavapay to join such esteemed ranks is truly inspiring for our entire community.
A ceremony to remember
The ceremony for the Freedom of the City of London was steeped in tradition and celebration, taking place in the Chamberlain’s Court at Guildhall and conducted by the Clerk. Attended by the incoming Lord Mayor of the City of London, a rare honor, as well as ambassadors of several countries, the ceremony was one to remember forever.
As Elkhan received the Freedom, he joined the elite group of individuals who had each contributed uniquely to society for the past seven centuries. Speaking on the auspicious occasion, Elkhan said, "Receiving the Freedom of the City of London is a tremendous honor that I accept with great responsibility. It is just not only as a personal milestone but also as a historic recognition of the Azerbaijani community and the journey of Guavapay. This award symbolizes our commitment to innovation, diversity, and collaboration within London’s financial landscape. I’m inspired to continue building bridges between nations and communities, and I hope this achievement paves the way for more Azerbaijani professionals to make their mark globally. This honor is a celebration of our shared values and aspirations."
A pivotal role for Guavapay
As Chief Compliance Officer, Money Laundering Reporting Officer and Director of Guavapay, Elkhan plays a pivotal role in protecting and developing Guavapay. Guavapay is a global fintech company, headquartered in London, on a mission to empower individuals and businesses through Guavapay’s custom-built global financial ecosystem. The “All Things Payments App” MyGuava and the B2B platform MyGuava Business simplify financial services, making them more accessible and affordable for historically overlooked individuals.
Elkhan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role while also fostering important relationships with employees and the community as well as London’s leading financial players. Bringing insight to business and product development, operations, regulation and compliance, Elkhan has been instrumental to the rise of Guavapay, helping grow the company from five employees to more than 500 global experts and professionals in IT, finance and banking. Since his advent into finance at 19, Elkhan has been helping create a profitable and sustainable payments ecosystem.
Prior to 1996, the Freedom was only open to British or Commonwealth citizens. Now, the accolade is available to any nationality either through nomination or through presentation by the Livery Company. Nevertheless, this is the first time that a civilian Azerbaijani citizen has been recognised by the Freedom, signifying the growing recognition of Azerbaijan on the global stage. Elkhan’s nomination also brings Guavapay into the limelight, recognising the leading digital payment platform, with its strong Azerbaijan presence, with more than 200 professionals based in Baku.
In this way, Elkahn’s significant contributions to London’s financial scene have helped situate Azerbaijan on the global financial scene. The Freedom nomination embodies a message of both unity and cooperation, fostering important ties between the nations. This recognition, and the work done by Elkhan, will also help pave the way for more Azerbaijani professionals to gain visibility in international arenas, reinforcing the importance of diversity and inclusivity in today’s global landscape.
A bright future for Guavapay and Elkhan
Elkhan Nasibov’s nomination for the Freedom of the City of London is more than just a personal accolade; it’s a celebration of many years of hard work and industry commitment. Elkhan’s leadership has now been immortalised as a testament to the importance of cross-cultural understanding and the positive impact of international cooperation.
Here at Guavapay, we are thrilled to witness the next chapter in Elkhan Nasibov’s journey and cannot wait to see what further visionary impact he will have on the industry and community. His dedication has already set new standards in the payments sphere and we look forward to seeing how his role will further shape industry progress.
