The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Maritime Development Bank, Mr Adeniran Aderogba, has commended Professor Benedict Oramah for his exemplary leadership and far-reaching contributions to Africa’s trade and economic development during his tenure as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank from 2015 to 2025.

In a statement on Sunday, Aderogba gave the commendation recently while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of a send-off dinner held in honour of Professor Oramah in Cairo, Egypt.

He described Oramah as a visionary builder, bridge-maker, and catalyst for Africa’s economic renaissance.

“Professor Oramah’s decade at the helm of Afreximbank has been nothing short of transformative. He has not only strengthened Africa’s trade financing architecture but also inspired a generation of African institutions to think boldly, collaborate deeply, and act strategically for the continent’s prosperity,” Aderogba stated.

Aderogba noted that, having worked closely with the bank for almost three decades, “We had jointly engaged in groundbreaking, innovative, and bold financing structures for the economic emancipation of the African continent. A little acorn has grown into an oak tree.”

According to him, Afreximbank, whose first financing deal in Nigeria was valued at $10m, now undertakes transactions running into billions of dollars, a remarkable milestone that underscores the bank’s growing impact in advancing economic development across the African continent.

The RMDB boss highlighted that key sectors impacted by Afreximbank’s interventions included telecommunications, the financial sector, hospitality, oil and gas, maritime, and transportation, among others.

Aderogba further emphasised Afreximbank’s pivotal role under Oramah’s leadership in promoting intra-African trade, supporting industrialisation, and advancing strategic continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Looking ahead, Aderogba said he is eager to continue the collaboration with Professor Oramah’s successor, Dr George Elombi, whom he has known for almost three decades and described as one who exemplifies the can-do ethos of Afreximbank.

Last week, Vanguard reported that at a farewell ceremony held in honour of Oramah in Egypt, a former Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board, Mr Jean-Louis Ekra, described Oramah as a visionary leader in African development finance, whose passion for writing and dedication were legendary.

“In 1996, he joined the bank as an executive vice-president, impressing colleagues with his `impressive command of banking and finance’ despite his academic background in agricultural economics. At the investiture of President Oramah, on September 21st 2015, I made the statement that ‘For nearly two decades as my colleague and close collaborator, he has consistently demonstrated his deep attachment, unwavering dedication and steadfast commitment to the growth and development of the bank. I believe that Professor Oramah is the right man for the bank at this time, and Afreximbank is certainly the right institution to confront Africa’s trade finance challenges. 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.

The event in Cairo drew dignitaries from across the continent, including representatives of African financial institutions, ministers, and private sector leaders, all of whom paid tribute to Oramah’s enduring impact on Africa’s economic transformation.

Oramah assumed the role of President and Chairman of the Board of Afreximbank in 2015.

During his presidency (2015 – 2025), Oramah led major strategic shifts and growth at Afreximbank. Some of the principal achievements include asset growth & financial scale. Under his leadership, the bank’s total assets and guarantees rose significantly from modest levels in 2015 to around $40-43bn by 2025. After a decade in office, Oramah stepped down in 2025 to be succeeded by George Elombi, who was appointed as President & Chairman of the Board of Afreximbank at the Bank’s 32nd Annual Meetings held in Abuja, Nigeria in June 2025. Elombi is the fourth person to hold the presidency of Afreximbank since its founding in 1993.

His term is initially for five years (renewable as per the Bank’s Charter).