The Growth Strategist

IN OCTOBER 2023, WHEN AFREXIMBANK CELEBRATED ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY, IT ALSO MARKED PROF. BENEDICT O. ORAMAH'S ALMOST THREE-DECADE-OLD CAREER WITH THE BANK. AS ITS PRESIDENT SINCE 2015, HE HAS SPEARHEADED INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE, FACILITATE AND FINANCE INTRA-AFRICA AND EXTRAAFRICA TRADE, IN THE PROCESS FOSTERING GLOBAL COLLABORATIONS, AND CEMENTING THE CONTINENT'S DEVELOPMENT FUTURE. MEET FORBES AFRICA'S 2023 PERSON OF THE YEAR.

In the heart of Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria, nestled in the Idemili South Local Government Area, lies the quiet

town of Nnokwa. “It may not be in the history

books that you read, but the ancient people of my village were very adventurous. The village has made its mark and is noted for many things,” says Prof. Benedict O. Oramah in an exclusive interview with FORBES AFRICA in late October.

The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) since 2015 traces his roots to this place, where the “residents once dared to harvest the moon for themselves”.

Far from Nnokwa, Oramah, a doctor of agricultural economics and professor of international trade and finance, is a testament to this “enterprising spirit’, as he engages in a 45-minute conversation over Zoom from Houston in the United States (US), where he is, in the midst of “a super hectic schedule traveling to 10 countries in two weeks”, his office tells us.

Dressed in a commanding black suit, complemented by a crisp white shirt and a green tie echoing the hues of Nigeria’s flag — a subtle nod to his roots — Oramah brings a touch of his identity to the bustling Texan metropolis. As he navigates a document, a momentary pause hints at the gravity of his responsibilities, capturing Oramah’s presence in the heart of Houston, a city known for its energy, diversity and global economic significance.