Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has conferred the prestigious national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Professor Benedict Okey Oramah.
President Tinubu bestowed the honour during the ongoing 32nd Annual General Meeting of the Afreximbank in Abuja.
According to the President, the recognition comes in acknowledgement of “a decade of transformative leadership by Professor Oramah, who has steered Afreximbank into becoming Africa’s foremost trade and development institution.”
Under Oramah’s leadership, Afreximbank has championed intra-African trade as its core strategic focus. The bank has evolved into a catalyst for industrialisation and export development, tackling challenges such as market concentration and limited local processing. This direction has positioned Afreximbank as a pioneer in African trade, navigating uncharted territory to foster deeper economic integration across the continent.
Over the past ten years, Afreximbank has disbursed approximately $52 billion into Nigeria, making the country the bank’s largest beneficiary. These funds have supported a range of sectors including energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, transport, and financial services. Notably, $19 billion has been invested in Nigeria’s financial services sector, significantly enhancing its depth and reach.
In the healthcare sector, Oramah has overseen the bank’s investment in the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja—a 500-bed facility specialising in oncology, cardiology, and haematology. This landmark project aims to curb medical tourism and strengthen healthcare delivery within Africa. The AMCE is part of a wider initiative to develop similar centres across the continent, positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for medical innovation and excellence.
Additionally, under Oramah’s guidance, Afreximbank is developing the Africa Trade Centre (ATC) in Abuja. This state-of-the-art facility will feature a hotel, conference centre, technology hub, exhibition space, and trade information centre, reflecting the bank’s strong commitment to strengthening trade infrastructure and promoting intra-African trade.
Professor Oramah is expected to step down as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank at the conclusion of the 32nd Annual General Meeting in Abuja.