Afreximbank appoints George Elombi as new president

By Kunle Sanni –

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the appointment of George Elombi as its new president and Chairman of the Board, marking a new chapter in the leadership of the continental financial institution.

Elombi, a Cameroonian national and long-serving executive at the bank, was confirmed during the bank’s 32nd Annual General Meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria, which concluded on Saturday. He becomes the fourth president of Afreximbank since its establishment in 1993, succeeding Professor Benedict Oramah, whose tenure ends in September 2025 after nearly a decade at the helm.

The appointment was one of the key resolutions of the annual meetings, which brought together shareholders, policymakers, and financial stakeholders from across Africa.

Elombi, who currently serves as Executive Vice President for Governance, Legal, and Corporate Services, joined Afreximbank in 1996 as a legal officer and has steadily risen through the ranks over nearly three decades. His extensive roles have included Chief Legal Officer, Executive Secretary, and Director, with a notable track record in institutional development and strategic expansion.

He is credited with playing a major role in shaping the bank’s structure, including the creation of key subsidiaries and special-purpose entities that have expanded Afreximbank’s reach and impact. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Elombi chaired the bank’s Emergency Response Committee, overseeing the mobilisation of over $2 billion to secure vaccines for African and Caribbean nations.

In his most recent role, he led equity mobilisation efforts that raised $3.6 billion in ordinary equity as of April 2025.

Elombi holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) and a PhD in Commercial Arbitration from the London School of Economics, as well as a Maitrise-en-Droit from the University of Yaoundé.

Reacting to his appointment, Elombi described the bank as a vital institution for Africa’s future. “I have worked alongside remarkable colleagues and extraordinary leaders to help shape this institution’s vision, its mandate, and its growth,” he said. “As we look to the future, I see Afreximbank as a force for industrialising Africa and for restoring the dignity of Africans wherever they are. I will work to preserve and strengthen this important asset.”