Veteran Executive Dr. Elombi to steer Afreximbank’s next decade of growth
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
Shareholders of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have unanimously appointed Dr. George Elombi as the next President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective September 2025.
Dr. Elombi, a Cameroonian national, is currently the Executive Vice President in charge of Governance, Legal, and Corporate Services at Afreximbank, where he has worked for nearly three decades. He will take over from Professor Benedict Oramah, who has served as President since 2015 and will be concluding a highly transformative decade at the helm.
The appointment was confirmed during the Bank’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held in Nassau, The Bahamas.
“I see Afreximbank as a force for industrializing Africa and for regaining the dignity of Africans wherever they are. It is both a duty and a privilege to take on this responsibility,” Dr. Elombi said in his acceptance speech.
Since joining Afreximbank in 1996, Dr. Elombi has played a pivotal role in shaping the institution’s legal and governance architecture, strengthening its capital base, and designing key instruments that now underpin intra-African trade, development finance, and the Bank’s continental and diaspora engagement strategies.
He was a leading figure in the development and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Adjustment Facility and has spearheaded institutional frameworks to support Afreximbank’s expanding presence in the Caribbean, aligning with the Bank’s Pan-African and diaspora development vision.
His deep institutional knowledge, combined with his legal and governance acumen, has earned him a reputation as one of Afreximbank’s most influential strategists.
Dr. Elombi’s appointment comes at a crucial time as Afreximbank continues to deepen its engagement with African governments and private sector actors to address challenges related to industrialization, infrastructure, climate finance, and macroeconomic resilience.
Under Prof. Oramah’s leadership, the Bank’s balance sheet expanded significantly, with a sharp focus on supporting African economies during crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing sovereign debt challenges. Oramah also championed initiatives like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and MANSA, the continent’s customer due diligence platform.
Dr. Elombi is expected to continue this legacy while steering the Bank toward more private sector-driven industrial investments, accelerating continental trade, and enhancing financial inclusion through innovation.
Afreximbank’s Board of Directors and shareholders expressed confidence in Dr. Elombi’s leadership and vision, describing his appointment as “a testament to continuity, competence, and commitment to Africa’s transformation.”
