An expert in international trade finance, Nigerian Okechukwu Ihejirika is now one of the key figures behind Afreximbank’s expansion strategy in the Caribbean. As head of the Bank’s regional operations for CARICOM, he works to strengthen trade, investment and economic integration between Africa and the Caribbean.
A Nigerian specialist in international trade finance, Okechukwu Ihejirika has more than twenty years of experience in the banking sector. He holds a degree in Actuarial Science and an MBA in International Trade. He built his career at several leading Nigerian banks, specializing in trade finance, bank guarantees, risk management and import-export operations.
This year will be unique because we are not limiting ourselves to Africa, the Caribbean and the African diaspora. We are going even further by seeking to bring together the entire wider Caribbean region, where we hope to welcome participants from Brazil, Panama, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, the four countries in this wider region that have approved the establishment of relations with our bank.
Okechukwu Ihejirika, Afreximbank Director General of Regional Operations for the CARICOM Region – Nigeria
In 2015, he joined the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as Head of Trade Services. He helped modernize trade finance instruments, develop trade finance services and support the digitalization of operations. His expertise also led him to serve on several international working groups of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT).
What we do within our financing institution is play a leading role in bringing these key stakeholders together so that they can begin working together to find common solutions to these challenges. And, of course, we know that when an issue is discussed and a solution is regularly debated, it ultimately leads to concrete action.
Okechukwu Ihejirika, Afreximbank Director General of Regional Operations for the CARICOM Region – Nigeria
Today, as Afreximbank’s Director General of Regional Operations for the CARICOM Region, he oversees the Bank’s development across the Caribbean. He coordinates relations with governments, banks and the private sector to strengthen trade, investment and industrialization. He is notably supporting the integration of countries such as Jamaica and the rollout of new financing mechanisms.
“What we are seeing today is greater involvement from stakeholders in identifying opportunities. Investment fund managers now have partners they can rely on, and that is where the Afreximbank network comes in. For us, as a financial institution, this means that once these matchmaking processes have advanced and once these relationships have been consolidated, we will provide the financing needed to turn these projects into reality.”
Okechukwu Ihejirika, Afreximbank Director General of Regional Operations for the CARICOM Region – Nigeria
Through the Global Africa strategy, Okechukwu Ihejirika is working to strengthen economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean. He supports SMEs, special economic zones and major industrial projects to boost trade, attract investment and position Afreximbank as a major player in Africa-Caribbean trade integration.
