Nigeria boasts of a number of experts whose exploits have catapulted to roles hitherto reserved for Europeans and others. These Nigerians are key players in promoting trade, managing port terminal operations, investment, and infrastructure development. They are also enhancing economic opportunities for Africa’s youth.
Ade Ayeyemi
He is Group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) in Lomé, Togo. Ayeyemi, a seasoned banker with over 25 years of experience, took over as CEO of Ecobank in 2015. Before this, he served as CEO of Citi Bank Sub-Saharan Africa.
Under his leadership, Ecobank consolidated its presence across 36 African countries, focusing on West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.
Ayeyemi has led initiatives to promote financial inclusion, particularly in rural and underserved areas, by leveraging digital platforms like Ecobank Mobile He strengthened Ecobank’s operations in Ghana by enhancing SME financing and in Nigeria through the promotion of retail banking.
Ayeyemi promoted the bank’s role in facilitating cross-border trade across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by developing payment platforms and trade financing solutions.
He led efforts to deepen Ecobank’s market share in Francophone countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Senegal.
Before joining Ecobank, he had a long and distinguished career with Citigroup, where he served in various leadership roles. His last position at Citigroup was as Chief Executive Officer for Citigroup’s Sub-Saharan Africa division, overseeing operations in 11 countries and playing a pivotal role in driving strategic growth across the continent.
Ayeyemi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. He furthered his education with an MBA from the University of Ibadan. Additionally, he is an alumnus of several prestigious executive education programs, including the Harvard Business School, London Business School, and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland.
Known for his strong leadership, strategic thinking, and commitment to excellence, Ayeyemi is recognised for his deep understanding of the African banking landscape. His approach to leadership is rooted in fostering innovation, building robust financial structures, and enhancing customer-centric services.
Ayeyemi has led efforts to transform Ecobank into a more efficient, technology-driven financial institution, navigating economic challenges while aiming to unlock Africa’s vast economic potential.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina
He is the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) with headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Dr. Adesina, a renowned agricultural economist, served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture (2011-2015) before being elected as AfDB President. Adesina introduced the “High 5s” development agenda—a framework aimed at transforming Africa through five key areas:
Light Up and Power Africa (increasing electricity access)
Feed Africa (agricultural transformation)
Industrialize Africa
Integrate Africa (enhancing regional integration)
Improve the Quality of Life for Africans
Power Projects in Nigeria and Ethiopia: Advocated and facilitated financing for major renewable energy projects, including solar and hydroelectric power plants.
He supported programs to enhance agricultural value chains in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, promoting modern farming practices and agro-processing industries.
Adesina launched initiatives like ENABLE Youth to empower African youth in agribusiness across multiple countries, including Ghana and Cameroon.
He facilitated funding for infrastructure projects like road construction in Kenya and railway developments in Ethiopia.
He advocated for investment in private sectors across Southern African nations, such as Mozambique and Zambia, to stimulate economic growth.
Adesina pursued higher education at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics with First Class Honors in 1981.
He later received a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, Indiana, USA, in 1988. During his time at Purdue, Adesina was recognized for his academic excellence and dedication to agricultural development.
He started his career working with the Rockefeller Foundation, where he contributed significantly to initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and food security in Africa.
He also worked as the Principal Economist and Social Sector Specialist at the African Development Bank (AfDB), focusing on agricultural development strategies.
Adesina served as the Associate Director and later as the Director for the Rockefeller Foundation’s Food Security Program.
He was instrumental in designing policies and programs that enhanced agricultural productivity, such as advocating for improved access to financing and better technology for smallholder farmers.
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Adesina was the Vice President of AGRA, where he focused on strategies to expand agricultural opportunities and improve livelihoods in Africa.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (2011–2015).
Adesina received multiple awards for his contributions to agriculture and development, including the Yara Prize in 2013 for his leadership in driving agricultural reforms in Nigeria.
He was recognized as one of Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers in 2013 for his transformative work.
By 2015, Adesina had established himself as one of Africa’s leading voices in agricultural development, known for his innovative policies and commitment to transforming agriculture into a key driver of economic growth.
Patrick Idemudia
His tenure at APM Terminals in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, saw him hold key roles such as Acting Terminal Operations Manager (2015-2016), Terminal Planning Manager (2013-2015), and Deputy Planning Manager (2012-2013). In these capacities, he directed comprehensive terminal operations, managed labour forces, optimized resource allocation, negotiated contracts, led automation and maintained high safety standards. Additionally, he played a crucial role in ensuring reliable customer service and engagement with government agencies.
These feats earned Patrick Idemudia a role as an expatriate in East Africa. At the moment, Idemudia is serving as the Operations Manager at Grain Bulk Handlers Limited in Mombasa and Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa where he has been instrumental in overseeing the seamless handling of edible and non-edible cargoes. His outstanding performance in earlier roles earned him an expatriate role in East Africa.
He has established himself as a key figure in optimising port and terminal efficiency. His career spans multiple leadership roles in Nigeria, Benin, and Kenya, where he has played a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, digital transformation, and workforce development.
In Mombasa, Idemudia has ensured efficient terminal operations, warehousing, and last-mile transportation while strictly adhering to safety protocols and optimizing shipment handling. His responsibilities include staff supervision, budget management, performance analysis, and stakeholder engagement to enhance terminal performance and customer satisfaction.
Idemudia was the Planning Manager at Grain Bulk Handlers Limited from April 2016 to February 2017, where he led the digital transformation and automation of terminal operations. His leadership in strategic planning and performance optimization significantly enhanced efficiency and safety within the organization.
In 2012, he was seconded to APM Terminals in Cotonou, Benin Republic as the Planning and Marine Manager. There, he led planning process optimizations, resource allocation, and workforce training to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Idemudia’s career began at APM Terminals in Lagos, where he held various positions, including Assistant Planning Manager, Operations Shift Manager, and Cargo Control Supervisor. Throughout these roles, he honed his skills in Port terminal planning and optimization, labour management, terminal automation and performance analytics, positioning him as an authority in terminal operations management. He was actively involved in the start up of APM Terminals in Nigeria in 2006 and was also saw through various terminal expansion plans running into hundreds of thousands of USD.
During his 10-year stint with APM terminals, he was one of the few African talents trained in the US, India, UAE, UK, Malaysia amongst other countries.
Idemudia’s career is marked by a commitment to innovation, efficiency, and safety. His ability to implement strategic initiatives, enhance operational performance, and foster strong stakeholder relationships has cemented his reputation as a dynamic leader in the maritime and logistics industry. As the global shipping and logistics landscape continues to evolve, Idemudia remains at the forefront, driving sustainable and efficient terminal operations.
Dr. Benedict Oramah
He is the President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) with headquarters in Cairo, Egypt with significant operations in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Benedict Oramah, an economist, has been with Afreximbank since 1994, serving in various leadership roles before his appointment as President.
His key contributions are spearheading initiatives to finance intra-African trade, especially among ECOWAS nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal. He focused on reducing dependency on imports by encouraging local production.
Support for Exporters: Provided financial solutions to exporters in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa, helping them access foreign markets.
Promotion of Industrialisation: Advocated for the industrialization of Africa by supporting manufacturing sectors in countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana.
He worked towards establishing trade platforms to enhance African businesses’ access to markets within the continent.
He provided counter-cyclical loans to Nigeria and Angola to cushion the effects of the 2014–2016 commodity price slump.
He launched initiatives to support textile and agro-processing industries in East and West Africa.
Born on July 24, 1961, in Ahoada, Nigeria, he pursued a degree in agricultural economics, earning his bachelor’s from the University of Ibadan in 1983, followed by a master’s and Ph.D. from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1987 and 1991, respectively.
He began his professional career in 1992 at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) as an Assistant Manager. In 1994, he joined Afreximbank as Chief Analyst and steadily progressed through the ranks, becoming Senior Director of Planning and Business Development in 2007 and Executive Vice President for Business Development and Corporate Banking in 2008. On September 21, 2015, he was appointed President and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
