*Obiora, the new Deputy Governor, Nigeria’s Central Bank
Dr. Kingsley Obiora’s recent appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari to join the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as Deputy Governor at this time did not come to some financial analysts as a surprise especially given his enviable experience as an Alternate Executive Director in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC, United States of America. The new Deputy Governor has vast knowledge of the Nigerian economy as an economist who has worked in various countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Not many Nigerians know that he has previously worked with the Nigerian government as Special Assistant to the President’s Chief Economic Adviser and Technical Adviser to the National Economic Management Team, and as a Special Adviser on Economic Matters to the Governor of the CBN between October 2011 and July 2018. Buhari’s appointment is to ensure that the Central Bank will now enjoy his fulltime contribution to the development of the financial arm of government. It was for these reasons that the 9th Senate of the Federal republic of Nigeria did not also waste time in confirming his candidacy whe the presidency sent it to them. He replaces Dr. Joseph Nnanna, who retired on February 2, 2020.
Obiora holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, a Masters in Economics from the University of Ibadan, and a Doctorate in Monetary and International Economics, also from the University of Ibadan. Before his latest appointment, he served as an Alternate Executive Director in the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC, United States of America. Since joining the global lender as an Economist in 2007, the new CBN Deputy Governor worked in various countries in Europe, Africa as well as Asia.
