Samaila Zubairu Appointed Chair of AAMFI, Succeeding Prof. Benedict Oramah
The Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), also known as the Africa Club, has announced the appointment of Samaila Zubairu as its new Chairperson. Zubairu, who serves as President and CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), takes over from Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
His appointment was confirmed during the fifth meeting of the AAMFI Governing Council on February 16, 2025, held on the sidelines of the 38th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
Dr. Corneille Karekezi, Group Managing Director and CEO of the African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re), and Mr. Manuel Moses, Chief Executive Officer of the African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), were also appointed as the first and second Vice Chairpersons of AAMFI, respectively.
Established in 2024, AAMFI unites Africa’s leading multilateral financial institutions to promote sustainable economic growth and financial self-reliance. Under Prof. Oramah’s leadership, AAMFI achieved major milestones, including its launch by African Heads of State, the adoption of its governing Charter, and the expansion of its membership from seven to ten institutions with the inclusion of the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), African Solidarity Fund (ASF), and East African Development Bank (EADB).
Reflecting on his tenure, Prof. Oramah stated: “AAMFI has laid a strong foundation for Africa’s financial sovereignty, but there is still much more to be done. I am confident that under Mr. Samaila Zubairu’s leadership, the Alliance will continue driving impactful collaborations and innovative financial solutions to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation.”
As Chair, Zubairu aims to enhance collaboration between member institutions, African governments, and global agencies to build a robust financial framework. His agenda prioritizes youth empowerment through industrialization, financial literacy, and pension reforms.
He also plans to spearhead strategic investments in infrastructure, deepen capital markets for enhanced liquidity, and advocate for cross-border capital mobilization and financial resilience mechanisms.
“I am deeply honored to assume the chairmanship of AAMFI at this pivotal moment for Africa’s economic transformation,” said Zubairu. “Our mission is to build a robust financial architecture that mobilizes African capital for African priorities, enabling industrialization and economic resilience. By fostering deeper intra-African collaboration, we will unlock opportunities that create high-quality jobs and drive innovation.”
Since 2018, Zubairu has led AFC in mobilizing capital for key infrastructure projects across Africa. The corporation has driven transformative initiatives, including the Lobito Corridor, Africa’s largest rail project, and renewable energy projects such as Lekela Power and Red Sea Power. Under his leadership, AFC has doubled its asset base to $15 billion and expanded its membership from 18 to 44 countries, covering 80% of Africa.
AAMFI members commended Prof. Oramah for his leadership and pledged their support for Zubairu’s tenure as Chairperson. The Alliance continues to play a pivotal role in advancing Africa’s economic interests, mobilizing development capital, and strengthening financial institutions for long-term sustainability.
Current AAMFI members include AFC, Afreximbank, Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group), African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re), African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), Shelter Afrique Development Bank (SHAFDB), ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company), East African Development Bank (EADB), African Solidarity Fund (ASF), and the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA).
