20 minute read
Leaders
NIGERIA PRESIDENT, AFREXIMBANK
Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah Missionary zeal for African prosperity
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If there’s one person who’s literally changing the African narrative it’s Professor Benedict Okey Oramah. The President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) brings a missionary zeal to his job. After spending almost his entire career at the trade development bank, he took over in 2015 as the head honcho, having been number two since 2008.
Almost immediately, he set out to revitalise the bank, re-committing to its founding mission and asserting itself more muscularly in the continent and beyond.
It is said that in private he admitted that he could understand why, at the time, Trump had called Haiti and Africa ‘those s***hole countries’ and that he was resolute to make him eat his words.
Convinced that the low levels of trade between African countries is at the root of the continent’s perennial underdevelopment, Professor Oramah has thrown himself at the challenge, backing the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement Systems (PAPSS), two interventions that are aimed squarely at this objective. More so, the bank is now the de-facto go-to institution for a wide range of issues when it comes to Africa, and on more than just banking.
The bank itself is growing, it’s proactive in tackling market failures and it’s increasingly taking on the role as Africa’s voice in the global arena.
More recently, readers will have noted its relentless advocacy for a fairer system. Oramah’s support of African initiatives should not be understated. He was instrumental in the launch of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility of a home-grown repo market to the continent.
And he’s not done. The bank has also committed itself to supporting an African Central Bank, a continental stock exchange and an African Monetary Bank. He may have already made his mark but he is clearly not on course for true transformation.
These are some of the reasons his country awarded him, in October, the title of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). If there had to be one, he’d be Africa’s Person of the Year. .
Oramah may have already made his mark revitalising Afreximbank, but he is clearly not fi nished re-defi ning the African fi nancial system.
RWANDA PRESIDENT
Paul Kagame Pioneering African politics
Fans of the President are heartened by his rhetoric, which emphasises African capability and invites the respect of the rest of the world.
SENEGAL MINISTER OF ECONOMY
Oulimata Sarr Juggling growth with equality
Oulimata Sarr, Senegal’s Minister of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation, is and a staunch advocate for women. Dogged, determined and devoted; caring, charismatic and thoughtful (or courageous, if you want the three c’s). Sarr embraces the best of Africa, an ubuntu spirit coupled with a strategic mindset and a focus on execution and results. Her career began at Ernst and Young in Senegal before she joined the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) and later the United Nations, where she was appointed the Women Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
While Senegal is among the fastestgrowing African economies, it still faces those headwinds that other countries in its class are confronting. Growth is predicted to slow this year, although it
Sarr now has the power to pursue her vision of equal opportunities and sustainable growth that centres women and girls’ roles in the economy.
could rise to 3.2%.
Her appointment itself came in the wake of some turmoil. President Macky Sall’s party had lost its parliamentary majority and her predecessor had been appointed Prime Minister, opening a path for her to the job. that the government has a plan to keep growth going, while balancing that with her long-held ambition to chart a path for women in business. As Minister of the Economy, she now has of equal opportunities and sustainable growth that centres women and girls’ roles in the economy, which will be another parameter on which her tenure will be judged.
SENEGAL PRESIDENT
Macky Sall Preaching reform from AU chair
President Macky Sall has been in the political establishment for decades, serving variously as mayor of Fatick, Prime Minister and President of the National Assembly before his election to the Presidency in 2012. In spite of this, he still manages to evince an aura of freshness that has endeared him to his people and earned him the respect of his peers.
It may have something to do with the fact that to win in 2012, he had to forge a new alliance that allowed him to overcome a tough incumbent in a tworound contest. His governing approach has been anchored on the reform of political institutions, including the Presidency itself, culminating in the referendum of 2016, which procured a resounding approval of his proposals.
In February 2022, President Sall took over the revolving chairmanship of the African Union, giving him another pulpit from which to preach reform, and political system. His tenure has also coincided with a time of intense geopolitical and economic tensions, which he has not been shy to engage with.
Whether it’s a just energy transition, taking on the credit ratings agencies or calling for a reset of the global architecture, he has been Africa’s Advocate-in-Chief on the global stage and within the continent.
Back home, he faces gathering disquiet over his ambivalence about seeking a third term in direct contravention of his own reforms, which could be what brings him down to earth and endangers his legacy.
KENYA PRESIDENT
William Arap Ruto The hustler statesman
President William Ruto’s victory in the in more ways than one – and not just for Kenya. He had been Vice-President for two terms when Uhuru Kenyatta was the national leader but during the second term, Kenyatta sidelined Ruto in favour of the veteran Raila Odinga, signalling an end to the decades-old rivalry between two of the country’s most powerful clans.
Raila, like his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, seemed to be in permanent opposition having failed to win the and on each failure, had challenged the election results. This had led to mass violence in 2007 and to a lesser extent following the 2017 elections. The handshake between Kenyatta and Odinga in 2018 indicated that the pattern of ethnic-based power struggles may have been coming to an end.
Given the endorsement from Kenyatta and strong support from his own region in Western Kenya and the Coast, it seemed likely that Raila would win over Ruto, who relied on the central provinces and his ‘hustler’ philosophy (he was a self-made millionaire, starting by selling a few chickens).
But Raila, it later transpired, the ordinary folk, who saw him favouring the wealthy and well-connected. His campaigning was full of rhetoric against Ruto’s limited but concrete policies.
Ruto promised to build the economy from the ground up, handing the advantage to the millions of Kenyans who make their living in the non-formal sector, and to facilitate an entrepreneurial boom to create enough jobs to absorb the bulk of the 800,000 Kenyans who enter the job market every year.
A challenging call in ordinary times but one that will stretch any government in the current challenging global environment. But Ruto has never lacked self Overcoming his own humble beginnings to become one of the richest people in the country, reputedly, might be an inspiring story. It will now be seen if his magic touch can do it for a whole country.
On the global stage, he’s already making his mark, from climate change negotiations to Africa’s position in the corridors of power. Africa needs it.
SOUTH AFRICA SG, AFCFTA
Wamkele Mene Running the AfCFTA juggernaut
Few people get the once-in-a-lifetime sling-shot opportunity that H.E. Wamkele Mene has been handed. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to observers of the continent, is possibly the greatest opportunity it has had to transform its economy through robust internal trade, value addition and increased investment.
Getting a trade deal of any size is of such magnitude and complexity, upon which so much rests, would surely result in the odd sleepless night. But if Mene is sweating, he’s certainly not showing it. A lawyer by training, he had been, variously, South Africa’s chief AfCFTA negotiator, chief director at the Department for Trade and the country’s representative to the World Trade Organisation. Since his election at a session of Heads of State in February 2020, he has worked assiduously to get the continent ready and brokered the strategic alliances that will be crucial to its success. Analysts believe that unlocking trade between Africa’s 1.2bn people could have a tremendous impact on lives and livelihoods on the continent. Should he succeed in getting that ball rolling, Mene would have earned his place among the continent’s historical greats.
NIGERIA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Peter Obi Unsettling the balance of power
Since the return to constitutional rule in 1999, power in Nigeria has alternated between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the two major parties in the country. The emergence of Peter Obi, candidate for the Labour Party (LP), as a strong contender in the next Presidential elections in 2023, threatens to upend this balance of power.
Obi, famous for carrying his own bags in a country where rank and deference to it place many of its elites above the simple mechanics of human life, was previously the governor of Anambra state where he left a budget surplus on his exit.
In 2019, he was invited by former President Atiku Abubakar to join him as Running Mate in his ultimately unsuccessful run for President. After the PDP, he resigned his membership and ran for the leadership of the Labour Party instead. functional leadership focused on the problems of the people. Obi may yet fail to overcome the famously formidable Nigerian political establishment but his campaign has demonstrated what is possible and may feed the latent desire in Africa’s most populous nation for a
ZAMBIA USAID
Monde Muyangwa Recalibrating USAfrica relations
Dr Monde Muyangwa’s appointment as USAID’s Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Africa comes at a time when geopolitical shifts are triggering new alliances and partnerships around the world.
Her career, however, reads like a preparatory script for just this role. Between 2002 and 2013, she was the Academic Dean of the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. She then joined the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, where she served as Director of the Africa Program.
Clearly she has spent a lot of time thinking and researching the relationship between the US and Africa. Such insight will be critical in the new role, which will involve deciding and administering US programmes on the continent. She will have to grapple with the recalibration of American expectations of the relationship, while also ensuring that African interests and issues are not lost among the myriad issues that require the attention of the world’s remaining superpower, even as that superpower itself contemplates its own future global role.
Dr Muyangwa’s insight will be crucial in her new role, which will involve deciding and administering US programmes in Africa.
ZAMBIA PRESIDENT
Hakainde Hichilema Slaying the corruption dragon
Following his election in August 2021, President Hakainde Hichilema confronted a daunting to-do list. default on its debt in the pandemic era, corruption was rife and its public
A distress call was placed to the IMF and following months of negotiation, December last year. In August this year, Zambia received $1.3bn from the fund, shoring up its reserves and helping it along with its climb to macroeconomic stability.
President Hichilema, recognising that it is only structural change that can sustain any momentum, has embarked on some reforms. Corruption, which has one of his key areas of focus. government has chosen to apply a ‘jail as a last resort’ approach for some exchange for the return of stolen funds to the state through asset forfeiture. Prosecution is still the state’s choice of action in some cases. The policy has received mixed reviews and it remains to be seen how successful it will be. Also to be determined is the attempts to reorder public expenditure, which have led to some pain and public dissatisfaction.
NIGERIA PRESIDENT, AFDB
Akinwumi Adesina Setting the record straight
Dr Akinwumi Adesina was the Minister of Agriculture in his native Nigeria before he became the head of the African Development Bank (AfDB), institution on the continent.
It was as a Minister that he made his name as someone with an evidencebased approach to solving issues, who has a plan and get things done. As President of the AfDB, he brought in dramatic changes, moving quicker than the institution was used to, which created resistance and pushback.
He’s responded to recent criticism in some camps, namely the American administration under Trump, and more recently a scathing article in The Economist refuted the criticism by dissecting the rather botched piece and letting the world know that Africa will not take lessons from others. It was a line-inthe-sand moment that re-energised the President and the institution.
This year, the Bank has responded Ukraine, providing support around food security and fertilisers. Adesina is also leading the charge in terms of climate adaptation.
The moment of crises is not over, however and the AfDB and its passionate leader will have to continue to prove their mettle and justify their institutions.
What the continent would like to see is a nimbler bank that can help tackle deep-rooted issues around energy access and infrastructure, which continue to gravely hold back the continent.
He has two years to leave an indelible mark, and to make use of the considerable increase in capital from $98bn to $208bn he achieved in 2019.
Aside from steering the AfDB’s response on food security in the wake of the Ukraine war, Adesina has led the charge in terms of climate fi nance.
EGYPT CLIMATE CHANGE
Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin Championed ‘loss and damage’ fund
Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin is the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt, as well as the UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. He was previously the World Bank Group’s Senior Vice President for the 2030 Development Agenda, UN Relations, and Partnerships.
This places him at the centre of the important conversations that are dominating the world and will determine the shape of the future. As climate change accelerates around the world, with extreme weather events already placing millions of lives at risk, his dual roles will come into even sharper focus.
COP27 was an opportunity to face some hard truths and make some most strategic thinkers and the most talented technocrat of his generation, Dr Mohieldin played an instrumental role leading up to COP27, not just for
Egypt but across the world, helping structure the global climate agenda, and at the end of the conference, was able to tout some success on the agreement to set up a fund for the ‘loss and damage’ caused to poor countries due to climate change.
But enforcing the deal and making sure that the promises made are delivered on, will be the true test of success.
GHANA VICE PRESIDENT
Mahamudu Bawumia Unleashing tech for development
The Oxford-trained economist, former Deputy Governor of Ghana’s Central Bank and Vice President of the Republic of Ghana since 2017, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is spearheading Ghana’s digitisation as a core economic strategy to solve socio-economic problems, formalise and build a more inclusive economy, deal with corruption and to
His reforms are setting a unique precedent on the continent. His digitisation agenda has resulted in the implementation and adoption of a Property Addressing System and a Mobile Money Interoperability System.
This is enabling a new set of opportunities for the consumer including mobile wallets and greater
Bawumia sees technology as the key to transforming the economy and delivering essential services. The medical drone service and a digital electronic pharmacy platform are making healthcare accessible in remote parts of Ghana and being replicated in many other African countries.
In other spheres, he was behind the revolutionary gold-for-oil policy to circumvent the current shortage of forex in the country.
He is strongly tipped to succeed President Nana Akufo-Addo as the ruling New Patriotic Party’s leader as it heads towards the 2024 elections. Bawumia is betting on digitisation and smart innovative policies as the only way for Africa to meet ambitious development objectives.
CAMEROON ECONOMIST
Vera Songwe Still focused on delivery
Vera Songwe’s tenure at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) – 2017-2021 – coincided with a time of change and disruption in Africa and the wider world.
Before she joined the Commission, she had been the International Finance Corporation’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa; World Bank Country Director for Senegal, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Mauritania; and Lead Economist at the World Bank. she focused on strengthening partnerships with other organisations, macroeconomic stability and supporting transformational initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
When Covid-19 struck, UNECA under her leadership rose to the occasion, partnering with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention batch of vaccines. The African Medical Supplies Platform and, later, the African Vaccines Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), which she helped set up, are meant to prepare the continent for future pandemics.
As the global economic situation poor countries.
Despite leaving UNECA in September, Songwe still makes our list because she is building a legacy that is farreaching. This includes creating a repo market for African bonds (the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility) and being instrumental in creating new funding alternatives for women, including her role in the African Women’s Impact Fund (AWIF) initiative.
She’s not just setting the agenda, she’s helping to unleash it.
SIERRA LEONE PRESIDENT
Julius Maada Bio Elevating education to top priority
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada has come good with his pledge to ensure that every child in his country receives quality education, devoting 22% of the 2022/23 budget to it.
This has raised eyebrows all over Africa and even abroad, as it is the highest allocation for education of any budget anywhere in the world.
After a vicious and destructive civil war that lasted 11 years, followed by the Ebola outbreak and then the Covid pandemic, Sierra Leone has been engaged in a slow struggle to return to normality. Less than half the country’s population are literate and schools are rampant.
Bio has abolished all fees for primary and secondary school, introduced free meals and said the proportion of female teachers will be increased. Until 2020, girls who became pregnant were barred from attending school, but now they are encouraged to continue with their studies.
Bio has taken the lead in other social areas – in 2019, he declared a state of emergency due to endemic sexual violence and increased penalties for rape and other sexual violations.
Last year he attended the Global Education Summit, co-hosted by the then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Kenya’s then President Uhuru Kenyatta in London, where $4bn was raised to support education, especially among the most vulnerable.
“I call on my fellow Heads of State statement and to commit at least 20% of your domestic budgets to education,” urged Uhuru Kenyatta. Some 19 Heads of State committed to doing so but so far, only Sierra Leone’s Bio has put his money where his mouth is.
Making the announcement about the budget allocation, Bio said: “We are throwing all our resources, all our energy into education. We cannot develop without improving education. I see it as an existential issue.”
The public from all over Africa will echo this sentiment and with Bio’s example, are already pressing their own governments to put greater resources into education.
NIGERIA AU SPECIAL ENVOY
Olusegun Obasanjo Still on the front line
His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo has twice been Head of State of Nigeria – once as a military leader and later as democratic dispensation.
In 2007, he joined the growing list of African leaders voluntarily relinquishing their positions and has since been involved in philanthropic work, continent, and promoting democracy and development in Nigeria and around Africa.
In Nigeria he still wields great sway and his pronouncements are scrutinised and paid attention to. His booming voice is sought on international stages, where his experience and insight continue to provide much-needed context to the
African situation and prospects for the future. This year, he entered another chapter into his bulging record, overseeing the peace negotiations in Ethiopia, after his appointment as Special Envoy by the African Union Commission Chairman, Moussa Faki. At nearly 85 years old, it the energy and the inclination to remains so actively involved Africa, though, it is a great advantage that its grand statesman refuses to quit and will continue to avail it of his wisdom for a while longer. Current leaders take note: his energy - if he can do it, so can you – and an important role for you to play.
