The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the appointment of Dr George Elombi as its next President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, marking a new chapter in the leadership of the pan-African financial institution.
Dr Elombi, a Cameroonian national, will officially take office in September 2025, becoming the fourth president of Afreximbank since its founding in 1993.
His appointment was confirmed during the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings held in Abuja, Nigeria, from June 25 to 28, 2025, with the formal approval taking place at the shareholders’ annual general meeting on Saturday, June 28, 2025.
He succeeds Professor Benedict Oramah, who has led the Bank since 2015.
In his acceptance remarks, Dr Elombi reflected on the Bank’s journey and his commitment to its vision.
“I have worked alongside remarkable colleagues and extraordinary leaders to help shape this institution’s vision, its mandate, as well as its growth,” he said.
“Looking ahead, I see Afreximbank as a force for industrialising Africa and restoring dignity to Africans wherever they may be. I will work to preserve and grow this important asset,” Dr Elombi added.
He also pledged to advance the vision set by his predecessor and the shareholders to transform Afreximbank into a $250 billion institution over the next decade.
Dr Elombi is a long-serving executive at Afreximbank, having joined in 1996 as a legal officer.
Over nearly three decades, he has held numerous senior roles including Executive Vice President for Governance, Legal and Corporate Services; Director and Executive Secretary (2010–2015); Deputy Director of Legal Services (2008–2010); and Chief Legal Officer (2003–2008).
Before his career at Afreximbank, Dr Elombi taught law at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. He holds a Ph.D. and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in commercial arbitration from the London School of Economics, University of London, as well as a ‘Maitrise-en-Droit’ from the University of Yaoundé.
A respected strategist and legal expert, Dr. Elombi has been instrumental in shaping Afreximbank’s institutional architecture.
He played a central role in establishing several of the Bank’s subsidiaries, expanding its ability to meet Africa’s growing trade and industrial financing needs.
As Chair of the Bank’s Emergency Response Committee, he led Afreximbank’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, mobilising over $2 billion to support vaccine procurement and deployment across Africa and the Caribbean.
Under his leadership of the Equity Mobilisation and Investor Relations department, the bank successfully raised $3.6 billion in ordinary equity by April 2025.
Dr Elombi’s appointment follows a rigorous international selection process launched in January 2025.
The search involved a global call for applications, coordination by an international executive search firm, and final approval by the General Meeting of Shareholders based on recommendations from the Board of Directors.
According to the Afreximbank Charter, the president is appointed for a five-year term, renewable once.
ID/MA
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