Benedict Okechukwu "Okey" Oramah
Born (1961-07-24) 24 July 1961
Ahoada, Nigeria
EducationUniversity of Ibadan, Ibadan

University of Ife, Ifẹ

Columbia Business School, New York
OrganizationAfrican Export-Import Bank
Title3rd President and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Term2015–present
SpouseChinelo Oramah
Children3
HonoursCommander of the Order of the Niger (CON) Knight of the National Order of Cameroon

Benedict Okechukwu “Okey” Oramah, CON, (born 24 July 1961) is a Nigerian economist who currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).[1][2][3][4][5]

Biography

Early life and education

Benedict Okechukwu Oramah was born on 24 July 1961 to Chief Lazarus A. and  Francisca U. Oramah in Ahoada, in present day Rivers State of Nigeria. He is the youngest of four children.[6]

Oramah attended the Merchants of Light School in Oba before obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan in 1983. He obtained his Master’s and PhD diplomas from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in the same field. He went on to earn an Advanced Management Certificate from Columbia Business School, New York.[6][7]

In 2018, he was appointed a Professor of International Trade and Finance by Adeleke University, Nigeria.[8]

Career

Having joined the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) as an Assistant Manager in 1992, Oramah became one of the original employees of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in March 1994. He served as a Chief Analyst from 1994 until he was promoted to the position of Assistant Director in 1998 and then to Deputy Director in 2001. He became the substantive Director of the Planning and Business Development Department in 2004 and the Senior Director in 2007. In 2008, Oramah was appointed Executive Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Banking.[5]

On 13 July 2015, Oramah succeeded Jean-Louis Ekra to become the third president of the bank.[9] His appointment was renewed for a second five-year term in 2020.[10] [11]

Personal life

Oramah is married to Mrs. Chinelo Oramah. They have three daughters.[6]

Board memberships

Oramah serves as a chairman or member of the board for a number of organizations, including PAPSS, the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges (AATB), Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa (SDGCA), Journal of African Trade, International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) and the Obafemi Awolowo University Foundation.[12]

Oramah also serves as a fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (ICA) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Recognition

Oramah has received numerous recognitions and awards. In 2022, he was honoured with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by the Federal Government of Nigeria.[13] Earlier in 2019, he received the Russian Federation’s state award of the Order of Friendship for his role in promoting Russia-Africa trade and investment relations.[14][15] Also in 2019, the Cameroonian Government honoured him with the award of Knight of the National Order.[16]

In addition, Oramah has been listed as one of the 100 most influential Africans by New African Magazine from 2019 to 2022[17][18] and among the top 100 Influential Africans by Jeune Afrique magazine in 2020. He also holds honorary doctorates from the Obafemi Awolowo University and Nnamdi Azikiwe University.[19][20]

Published works

  • A Path to Making Africa Great Again, New York University and Afreximbank, 2018
  • Foundations of Structured Trade Finance, Wilmington, Ark Group Ltd., London, 2015
  • Potentials for Diversifying Nigeria’s Non-Oil Exports to Non-Traditional Markets, Research Report 68, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), Nairobi, November 1997

References

  1. ↑ "Nigerian emerges African Export-Import Bank president". Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  2. ↑ CNN speaks to African Export-Import Bank President | CNN, 2023-07-14, retrieved 2023-11-05
  3. ↑ "Nigeria's Benedict Oramah assumes headship of Afreximbank". hallmarknews.com. 2015-09-21. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  4. ↑ "Afreximbank appoints Nigerian banker, Benedict Oramah as new president". Ventures Africa. 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  5. 1 2 "Benedict Oramah". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  6. 1 2 3 "Afreximbank's Benedict Oramah – 'The ratings agencies looked down on us'". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  7. ↑ Anyaoku, Emeka (2004). The Inside Story Of The Modern Commonwealth. Evans Brothers Ltd. pp. 3–5. ISBN 0-237-52734-0.
  8. ↑ "President Oramah Decorated Professor of International Trade and Finance". African Export-Import Bank. 2018-07-22. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  9. ↑ "Afreximbank appoints Benedict Oramah as new president". TXF. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  10. ↑ "Prof. Benedict Oramah Re-appointed as Afreximbank President". African Export-Import Bank. 2020-06-14. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  11. ↑ "ALB - African Law and Business". ALB Legal and Business Issues from Africa. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  12. ↑ "H.E. Professor Benedict Oramah". Concordia. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  13. ↑ "Afreximbank President Oramah awarded Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by the President of Nigeria". African Export-Import Bank. 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  14. ↑ Awoyinfa, Samuel (2019-11-05). "Putin honours Afreximbank president, Oramah". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  15. ↑ "Putin Honours Oramah with Russia's National Award - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  16. ↑ "Cameroon Awards National Honours to Afreximbank Leaders". African Export-Import Bank. 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  17. ↑ African, New (2020-12-15). "Benedict Oramah: International trade is a game of survival of the fittest". New African Magazine. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  18. ↑ "Afreximbank's President Benedict Oramah Named Among Most Influential Africans". African Export-Import Bank. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  19. ↑ University, Nnamdi Azikiwe (2022-03-23). "Convocation: Afrexim Bank President, Oramah, Dangote, others bag Degrees from UNIZIK". Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  20. ↑ Rapheal (2022-04-24). "Day UNIZIK honoured Dangote, Oramah, others at convocation". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
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