Afreximbank has named Dr. George Elombi as its upcoming President.
**Dr. George Elombi Takes the Helm at Afreximbank**
Dr. George Elombi, a Cameroonian legal expert with a distinguished career at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has been appointed as the new President and Chairman of the Bank's Board of Directors. The announcement was made during the 32nd Afreximbank group annual meetings held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 25 to 28 June 2025.
Dr. Elombi's appointment follows a rigorous selection process initiated in January 2025, which included a global call for applications published in international media and on the Afreximbank website. Shortlisted candidates were interviewed by an international human resource executive search firm before the top candidates were presented to the Board of Directors. The Board then recommended Dr. Elombi to the General Meeting of Shareholders for final approval.
Born and educated in Cameroon, Dr. Elombi holds a Maîtrise en Droit from the University of Yaoundé, an LL.M. and Ph.D. in commercial arbitration from the London School of Economics. Prior to joining Afreximbank, he was a lecturer in law at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom.
Since joining Afreximbank in 1996 as a Legal Officer, Dr. Elombi has risen through the ranks, holding various leadership positions, including Executive Vice President, Governance, Legal and Corporate Services, Director and Executive Secretary, Deputy Director, Legal Services / Executive Secretary, Chief Legal Officer, and Senior Legal Officer.
As the new President of Afreximbank, Dr. Elombi has accepted the shareholders' ambitious vision to transform Afreximbank into a $250 billion bank within ten years. He emphasizes continuity and innovation, focusing on furthering the institution's role in industrializing Africa and promoting intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Elombi expressed a deep commitment to the Bank's mission and future, stating a focus on industrializing Africa and re-gaining the dignity of Africans wherever they are. He also highlighted his role in establishing Afreximbank's structure and subsidiaries, and under his supervision, Afreximbank's total ordinary equity mobilized amounted to USD 3.6 billion as at April 2025.
Dr. Elombi's appointment comes as he succeeds Professor Benedict Oramah, who served as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2015. Under his leadership, Afreximbank played a pivotal role in supporting African economies during the COVID-19 pandemic, mobilizing over $2 billion for vaccine acquisition and deployment.
As Dr. Elombi takes the helm, he aims to preserve Afreximbank as a vital asset for African development while driving its digital agenda. His tenure as President is expected to accelerate the bank's mission across the continent.
[1] Afreximbank (2025). "Dr. George Elombi Appointed as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank." Afreximbank Press Release. [2] Afreximbank (2025). "Afreximbank Announces New President and Chairman of the Board of Directors." Afreximbank Website. [3] The Guardian (2025). "Cameroonian Lawyer Takes Charge of Afreximbank." The Guardian. [4] Afreximbank (2025). "Afreximbank's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic." Afreximbank Website.
- In the process of announcing his appointment, Dr. George Elombi's new role as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afreximbank was widely covered on financial news websites such as ffnews.com, reflecting the global significance of his leadership in African finance.
- As the new President of Afreximbank, Dr. George Elombi will focus on utilizing digital technology to drive the bank's growth and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework, demonstrating his commitment to fostering business and leadership in Africa.
