By Miriam Humbe
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, has showered encomiums on the immediate past President of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Professor Benedict Oramah for his purposeful leadership while holding sway at the helm of the financial institution, which has contributed immensely to the economic development of the country.
Segun Imohiosen, the Director, Information & Public Relations in the OSGF disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
SGF made the commendation when the delegation from Afreximbank led by its Managing Director, Export Development, Mrs. Oluranti Doherty in company of the CEO of African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), Brian Deaver paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Dr. Akume stressed the patriotic commitment of Prof. Oramah, who has played key role in securing credit facilities to Nigeria when the nation was in dire need, which has gone a long way to breath a new lease of life to the stressed economy.
He said: “Prof. Oramah has done a lot to impact the people and government of this country, Africa and beyond Africa. Since the day I met him, we became very close.
“Other financial institutions refused to extend credit facilities to Nigeria on the ground that we have reached allowable limit and has become increasingly difficult for Nigeria to import for the use of our people. But Prof. Oramah came to the Rescue.
“He reshuffled the debts owed the bank by the government. He went further to extend more credit facilities to government. So in a way, he contributed immensely to the rehabilitation of the Nigerian economy.”
He further eulogised the immediate past President of Afrixembank for making Nigeria proud by facilitating the establishment of one of the best hospitals in Africa, the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), with the state-of-the-art medical equipment and with well-seasoned medical personnel trained in all medical fields. He added that it was not a surprise to him when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred on him the second highest national award, Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) for his untrammelled feats and patriotism.
The Managing Director, Export Development of Afreximbank, Mrs. Oluranti Doherty said that the purpose of the visit was to convey the deep appreciation of the Board Management of Afreximbank to the SGF for being a remarkable pillar of support to the financial institution toward the realisation and operationalisation of the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE).
The AMCE specialises in treating cardiovascular, oncological and blood-related diseases, etc; and the Afreximbank African Trade Centre in Abuja, which serves as the trade and export hub of Africa.
She also disclosed the recent annual general meeting held in Abuja where the outgoing President of the Institution, Prof. Benedict Oramah handed over the baton to his successor, George Elombi, having served meritoriously for the past ten years.
The Board Management thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for honouring the meeting alongside the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu and also expressed their indebtedness to Mr. President for honouring their immediate past President with the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).
