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.
Yet, this scene unfolds far from Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, where Oramah drives Africa’s trade with the rest of the world, with total balance sheet assets growing by 8% from $27.9 billion as of December 2022 to $30.28 billion as of September 2023. This is a growth from $5 billion when Oramah assumed leadership eight years ago.
Oramah has ventured to this US city for the second edition of the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC), hosted by Nigeria’s Fidelity Bank Plc. The event transcends geographical boundaries, symbolizing the interconnectedness of international trade.
