Abuja, Nigeria June 28, 2025
President Bola Tinubu made waves Friday, bestowing one of Nigeria’s highest honours – the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on Professor Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank. The powerful gesture recognised Oramah’s “transformative” decade-long leadership of Africa’s premier trade finance bank.
Why He Got the Gong:
- Bank Boom: Under Oramah’s watch, Afreximbank exploded from a $5 billion institution to a massive $37 billion financial powerhouse.
- Africa First: Tinubu hailed Oramah for championing critical continental projects: fighting pandemics, driving industrialisation (like the new $5bn textile hub!), backing the African Free Trade Area, and boosting the creative economy.
- “Generational Impact”: “This is a legacy of generational impact,” declared President Tinubu during his address at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja. “Africa’s Bank has flourished under his steadfast leadership.”
Energy Bank Bombshell!
In a major double announcement, President Tinubu also revealed Nigeria will officiallylaunch the Africa Energy Bank THIS Saturday!
- $5 Billion Start: The powerful new institution kicks off with a hefty $5 billion in initial capital.
- Abuja HQ: Nigeria’s capital city will be the permanent home base for this crucial pan-African bank.
- Powering Africa’s Future: Its mission? To finance Africa’s energy shift, funding gas projects, renewables, and clean tech across the continent.
Why This Matters for Naija:
This isn’t just about honours. Landing the Africa Energy Bank’s headquarters in Abuja is a massive strategic win:
- Cements Nigeria’s position as a key financial hub in Africa.
- Puts Naija at the heart of deciding how billions for energy projects are spent.
- Boosts Nigeria’s influence in shaping the continent’s energy future.
Professor Oramah’s top national honour caps a stellar career steering Afreximbank to new heights. Meanwhile, the launch of the Africa Energy Bank from Abuja signals Nigeria’s growing clout in driving Africa’s economic and energy destiny. A big day for Naija on the continental stage!
