Prominent African and global figures have paid glowing tributes to Prof. Benedict Oramah, the outgoing President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), for his visionary and transformative leadership.
Oramah received the accolades at a Farewell and Investiture Ceremony held on Friday at the St. Regis Al Masa Convention Centre in Cairo, Egypt. The two-day event, themed “Decades of Impact as Building Blocks for a Prosperous Future,” celebrated his legacy while welcoming the incoming president, Dr. George Elombi.
Former Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra described Oramah as “a visionary leader in African development finance,” recalling his deep commitment since joining the bank in 1996 as an executive vice president.
“Ten years later, I am profoundly moved to witness that Prof. Oramah has not only fulfilled that mandate but has far surpassed every expectation,” Ekra said, while praising his wife, Chinelo, for her steadfast support throughout his career.
Incoming Afreximbank President George Elombi lauded Oramah for transforming the bank into what he called “Africa’s development supermarket.”
“When he assumed office in 2015, his vision was clear—building upon the foundation established by his predecessor and propelling the bank to become a leading force in Africa’s development,” Elombi noted.
Business magnate Aliko Dangote praised Oramah as “the man who makes the impossible possible,” adding that Afreximbank under his leadership became “Africa’s crisis-solving bank.”
Other tributes came from across the globe. Grenada’s Prime Minister, Hon. Dickon Mitchell, represented by Ambassador Richard Nixon, said Oramah’s leadership had left an indelible mark on both Africa and its diaspora.
Dr. Gulan Mufti of King’s College Hospital, London, recounted Oramah’s personal battle with leukemia and how his recovery inspired the establishment of the Africa Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE).
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State described him as “the intellectual, the brave, bold and audacious banker—the solution.”
Rosa Whittaker, President and CEO of The Whitaker Group, called him “extraordinarily visionary,” while Afreximbank Executive Vice President Kanayo Awani praised his empathy and humility.
Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, hailed Oramah as “a man of tremendous courage, vision, and boldness,” and Tony Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, credited him with expanding Afreximbank’s impact across Africa.
Celebrities and global leaders also joined in the tributes. Actor Boris Kodjoe commended Oramah’s deep commitmek more closely with the continent’s people.
At the ceremonynt to Africa, while football legend Didier Drogba thanked him for connecting Afreximban, Oramah urged Afreximbank staff to remain loyal and steadfast under his successor, Dr. Elombi.
“You are among the few who won the lottery to fight for Africa’s dignity, prosperity, and future,” he said. “Just as you supported me, I want you to support Dr. George Elombi who is taking over from me.”
