Afreximbank’s Assets Surge to $43.5 Billion

As his transformative tenure comes to a close, Professor Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), announced a monumental rise in the institution’s assets, revenues, and impact over the past decade, as he officially steps down during the opening session of the Bank’s 32nd Annual Meetings hosted in Nigeria.

Speaking before stakeholders and dignitaries, Oramah revealed that Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees soared from $5 billion in 2015 to $43.5 billion in April 2025—a more than eightfold increase. Over the same period, total revenues jumped from $408 million to $3.24 billion, while net income surged by 700%, reaching $1 billion in 2024.

Oramah, who has helmed the bank since 2015, reflected on a decade marked by crises and resilience. “We were tested by shocks—from commodity price crashes and a global pandemic to geopolitical upheaval—but with strong shareholder support, we delivered," he said.

Though stepping down, Oramah set an ambitious tone for Afreximbank's next chapter, forecasting that the bank’s total assets and guarantees could exceed $250 billion within the next ten years.

“Today, Afreximbank is not just a bank—it is a continental shield in times of crisis and a catalyst for Africa’s transformation,” he stated.

Afreximbank’s track record under Oramah's leadership has been marked by bold and responsive financial interventions across the continent and beyond. Between 2020 and May 2025, the bank invested $120 billion across Africa and the Caribbean, addressing urgent development and recovery needs. Over the past decade, it deployed a total of $155 billion in trade finance and economic support, solidifying its role as a financial backbone for African economies.

During the 2015–2016 commodity price shock, Afreximbank disbursed $10 billion to support countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, and Ghana in meeting their trade-related debt obligations and stabilizing their foreign exchange markets. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank allocated $8 billion in assistance—including $2 billion specifically for the procurement of 400 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

In response to the geopolitical and economic disruptions caused by the Russia–Ukraine conflict, Afreximbank disbursed $50 billion between 2022 and 2023, further reinforcing its role as a crisis-response institution for the continent.

Innovation in Payments and Trade Finance

Since the launch of Afreximbank’s proprietary "AfPAY" cross-border payment system in 2020, the bank has facilitated $68 billion in commercial payments across 61 African and Caribbean nations. Additionally, it supported $33 billion in trade finance through letters of credit and confirmation services in over 30 countries.

These financial instruments have helped reduce Africa’s dependency on foreign currency and streamlined intra-African trade in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.

Shareholder equity has grown dramatically—from $1 billion in 2015 to $7.5 billion in 2025, while liquidity expanded tenfold from $450 million to $4.5 billion over the same period.

As Professor Oramah exits his post, he leaves behind not just a stronger institution, but a symbol of African financial sovereignty and resilience. "It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead Afreximbank during these defining years," he said, thanking Nigeria for hosting what would be his final address to shareholders as president.

His legacy, by all metrics, is one of exponential growth, bold leadership, and deep commitment to Africa’s future.