adminThe African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announced the appointment of Kanayo Awani as managing director of its intra-African Trade Initiative. The Cairo-based bank said in a statement on Sunday that Awani, a Nigerian national, will have the primary responsibility of assisting the Bank in ensuring the attainment of its Intra-African Trade Strategy, which is aimed at increasing industrialisation and intra-Africa trade by at least 50 percent in the next five years.
“Ms Awani will lead Afreximbank’s efforts to raise the level of intra-regional trade in Africa by 50 percent in the next five years to reach a trade volume of $250 billion,” said Afreximbank president Dr Benedict Oramah.
“Kanayo brings many years of strong real-world experience in intra-African trade finance to this important assignment,” he said.
The Afreximbank president said Ms Awani had demonstrated unusual commitment to the vision of the bank and exhibited the determination required for the effective delivery of its goals.
According to the statement, Ms Awani’s appointment takes effect on May 18.
Until the appointment, Ms Awani was director of Afreximbank’s Trade Finance and Branches Department which manages the Bank’s business development efforts in trade finance across Africa.
Prior to joining Afreximbank in 2009, she served for many years with Citigroup, her last position being that of vice president and head of Industrial and Commercial Corporates at Citigroup Nigeria. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter