The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has named Dr. George Elombi as its next President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, marking a significant leadership transition at the continental financial powerhouse. His appointment was confirmed during the Bank’s 32nd Annual Meetings held in Abuja, Nigeria, between June 25 and 28, 2025. The formal announcement was made at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on Saturday, June 28.
Dr. Elombi, a Cameroonian national with a nearly three-decade-long career at Afreximbank, will officially take over in September 2025, succeeding Professor Benedict Oramah, who has served as President and Chairman since 2015. With his elevation, Elombi becomes only the fourth President of the Bank since its founding in 1993.
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Having joined Afreximbank in 1996 as a Legal Officer, Elombi’s journey through the institution has been one of steady ascent and consistent impact. He has held various key roles including Executive Vice President for Governance, Legal, and Corporate Services, Director and Executive Secretary, and Chief Legal Officer. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping both the operational structure and the strategic vision of the Bank.
Prior to his tenure at Afreximbank, Elombi taught law at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. His academic pedigree includes a Ph.D. in commercial arbitration and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the London School of Economics, University of London, as well as a Maitrise-en-Droit from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Elombi’s leadership is already well-established within the institution. He chaired the Bank’s Emergency Response Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he spearheaded efforts to mobilize over $2 billion for vaccine acquisition and deployment across Africa and the Caribbean. He has also overseen equity mobilisation efforts that resulted in the Bank raising $3.6 billion in ordinary equity as of April 2025.
Reflecting on his appointment, Dr. Elombi expressed a sense of continuity and purpose. “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 in his acceptance speech. “As we look to the future, I see Afreximbank as a force for industrialising Africa and for regaining the dignity of Africans wherever they are. I will work to preserve this important asset.”
The appointment follows a global search and competitive selection process launched in January 2025. Applications were solicited from across the world and reviewed by an international executive search firm. Final candidates were screened by the Board of Directors, which then recommended Dr. Elombi to the General Meeting of Shareholders.
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In line with the Afreximbank Charter, the president is appointed for a five-year term, renewable once, by the General Meeting of Shareholders upon the Board’s recommendation. Elombi steps into his new role with the support of his predecessor and a shared vision to transform the institution into a $250 billion Bank within the next decade.
As Afreximbank continues to play a crucial role in trade finance, development, and industrialisation across Africa, Dr. George Elombi’s leadership marks the beginning of a new chapter for the institution — one that promises both continuity and bold ambition.
