Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) On Monday, Cairo was awarded the Forbes Africa Magazine 2023 Person of The Year Award.
A packed ceremony was held for the ceremony, which included an unveiling that revealed the front cover for December 2023 edition and January 2024 editions of Forbes Africa. Edition, with Oramah as the main protagonist, Rakesh Wahi, Forbes Africa editor and founder, and Roberta Naicker, managing director of Forbes Africa, announced that this award was a tribute to the achievements of outstanding Africans and individuals who contributed positively to the advancement of the continent.
“With a career spanning three decades at Afreximbank, Benedict Oramah is a true pan-Africanist,” said Renuka Methil, the managing editor of Forbes Africa. “In our hour-long interview, Oramah’s remarkable track record and his undeniable enthusiasm and commitment to the advancement of Africa was apparent.
“Amongst numerous initiatives under his leadership, Afreximbank announced its Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which will be a historic project to facilitate international payments made in the local African currencies. He is a resolute risk-taker and has articulated with great clarity the way a new united Africa could, and should be like”, Renuka Methil stated.
The Forbes Africa Person of the Year nominations are formulated by the editorial and research team of Forbes magazine, which comprises reporters from offices across Africa. The person who is chosen as the winner is selected following an analysis of all African countries’ top African contributing authors. Oramah’s name was selected as a finalist, and all of the editors unanimously decided that she was the winner for 2023.
The award is a recognition that Oramah is now part of an elite group of extremely successful individuals who had previously been awarded the award, including Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was the Director at one time of the Central Bank of Nigeria; James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Group; Akinwumi Adesina president of the African Development Bank; Aliko Dangote director from Dangote Group; Mohammed Dewji the president of the MeTL Group; and Thuli Madonsela who was the former Public Protector of South Africa.
On the 17th of November, Oramah was also awarded the Zik Prize in Professional Leadership at a ceremony to award the prize held in Lagos, Nigeria. Oramah is also the recipient of a range of other awards all over the world for his contributions to the development and promotion of commerce across Africa and for the many initiatives he has taken to boost trade relationships across Africa with other countries of the globe.
What do you need to know about Benedict Oramah?
The Forbes AFRICA person of The Award nominations are based on submissions made by the research team and editorial staff, which comprises journalists from various African Bureaus. After a thorough analysis of Africa by prominent authors, Professor Oramah emerged as the all-encompassing winner for the year 2023.
Benedict Oramah’s name to the list of past winners of the award, that includes Sanusi Lamido Sanusi the former Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Dr. James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Group; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina President of the African Development Bank; Aliko Dangote, the Director for Dangote Group; Mohammed Dewji the president of MeTL Group; and Thuli Madonsela, the previous Public Protector of South Africa.
In addition to receiving the award for The FORBES AFRICA People of the Award, Oramah was also awarded the Person of the Year award. Oramah was awarded the Zik Prize in Professional Leadership in November.
Under his leadership, Afreximbank has been a leader in significant projects. For example, in conjunction with the United Bank for Africa, it recently announced a $150 million deal to establish an international trade finance facility as an element of the Ukraine crisis-adjusted Trade Finance Program for Africa.
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