csrreporters 
The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB), Adeniran Aderogba, has lauded Professor Benedict Okechukwu Oramah, outgoing President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), describing him as a visionary leader, bridge builder, and catalyst for Africa’s economic renaissance.
Aderogba made the remarks over the weekend in Cairo during a send off dinner held in honour of Professor Oramah, whose decade long tenure at Afreximbank (2015–2025) was celebrated for its transformative impact on trade and economic growth across the continent.
“Professor Oramah’s decade at the helm of Afreximbank has been nothing short of transformative,” Aderogba stated. “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.”
Reflecting on Afreximbank’s evolution, Aderogba noted that the institution’s first financing deal in Nigeria was valued at just $10 million but has since expanded into multi-billion-dollar transactions across critical sectors such as telecommunications, finance, hospitality, oil and gas, maritime, and transportation.
He further commended Afreximbank’s pivotal role under Oramah’s leadership in advancing industrialisation, promoting intra-African trade, and driving landmark continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Aderogba, who has worked closely with Afreximbank for nearly three decades, described the institution’s growth as “a little acorn that has grown into an oak tree,” symbolising its enduring contribution to Africa’s economic emancipation.
Looking to the future, the RMDB President expressed optimism about continuing collaboration with Afreximbank’s new President, Dr. George Elombi, whom he described as “a leader who exemplifies the can-do ethos of Afreximbank.”
The Cairo event drew dignitaries from across Africa, including ministers, private sector leaders, and representatives of financial institutions, all paying tribute to Professor Oramah’s visionary leadership and lasting legacy in Africa’s economic transformation.