Kanayo Awani

Kanayo Awani
Born	Nigeria
Occupation	Banking executive
Years active	1990–present
Known for	Executive Vice President of the Intra-African Trade Bank at Afreximbank; promoting intra-African trade and industrial growth
Notable work	Leadership in AfCFTA negotiations; expansion of intra-African trade financing; organization of Intra-African Trade Fair events

Kanayo Awani is a Nigerian banking leader currently holding the position of Executive Vice President at the Intra-African Trade Bank within the Afreximbank since July 2022. She has played a pivotal role in promoting intra-African commerce and industrial growth, particularly by backing initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). With a robust background in both private sector and development finance, Awani has been key to increasing Afreximbank’s asset portfolio and enabling substantial trade financing throughout the African continent.

Educational background

Awani obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nigeria and later completed a Master’s in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she was honored with the Edward S. Mason Fellowship in Public Policy and Management. Additionally, she earned leadership qualifications from INSEAD (Leadership Transition Programme, 2014) and Said Business School (Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme, 2016).

Citigroup

Awani launched her professional journey at Citigroup Nigeria in 1990, advancing through various departments including Trade Services, Operations, Corporate Finance, and Corporate Banking. She rose to the role of Vice President and Head of the Industrial & Commercial Corporates Division, overseeing major accounts with multinational corporations and managing prominent local corporate clients across diverse industries.

Afreximbank

In 2009, Awani joined Afreximbank as Assistant Director responsible for Trade Finance and Branch operations, contributing to the growth of one of the institution’s most lucrative business lines. She was instrumental in steering the bank’s strategic emphasis toward fostering intra-African trade and industrial development. On 18 May 2016, she was elevated to Managing Director of the Intra-African Trade Bank within African Export–Import Bank.

Throughout her leadership, Awani championed the negotiations for the AfCFTA, which culminated in its signing by 44 nations in Kigali in March 2018. Under her guidance, intra-African trade financing expanded dramatically from approximately 3% in 2016 to 28% by 2021, facilitating around US$20 billion in trade and investment funding. She initiated the Intra-African Trade Champions programme aimed at empowering African companies to scale cross-border operations and boost “Made in Africa” branding.

Awani also led the organization of the Intra-African Trade Fair events held in Cairo (2018) and Durban (2021), which collectively generated trade agreements exceeding US$42 billion. Her stewardship greatly enhanced Afreximbank’s influence in advancing economic integration across Africa and supporting regional trade growth.

Executive Vice President

On 20 June 2022, Awani was appointed by Afreximbank’s Board as Executive Vice President of the Intra-African Trade Bank. In this capacity, she drove initiatives such as the development of Industrial Parks and Export Processing Zones, alongside harmonizing pharmaceutical standards amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She also pioneered the African Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme to ease cross-border commerce and launched the Creative Africa Nexus, a $1 billion fund targeting multiple sectors. In November 2023, Awani secured a seat on the Executive Committee of a global factoring association.

Recognition

Awani has received notable acclaim for her contributions to finance and development. In 2020, she was honored as one of MIPAD's Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent and recognized among Nigeria's 100 Leading Women. Additionally, Forbes Africa featured her in its 2023 list of the TOP 50 Women.

Awards

• Woman Leader Award at the Africa Financial Industry Summit (2022)
• Award from the Africa Economy Builders Forum (2023)
• Global Woman Award from the African Diaspora Advisory Board