We’re erecting super structure of Global Africa on foundations of Pan-Africanism – Oramah; Wants AU, CARICOM leaders to strongly canvass Global Africa Commission
The President and Chairman of the Board of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Professor Benedict Oramah has hailed African and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders for their support for the proposed Global African Commission, and called on them to strongly canvass the agenda at the 2nd CARICOM-African Union Summit holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, September 7, 2025.
Professor Oramah, who made the call in his speech on the occasion of the African Diaspora Day at the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), held in Algiers, Algeria, on Friday, September 5, 2025, noted that the Day was being celebrated during the centenary of legendary pan Africanist, Frantz Fanon, a native of Martinique in the Caribbean, who joined his brave brothers and sisters in Algeria in the struggle against the ravages of colonialism.
The Afrexim Bank boss pointed out that the current initiative is aimed at taking the effort of the 1950s, when Fanon and his contemporaries were agitating, “a step further by beginning to erect the super-structure of Global Africa on the foundations of Pan-Africanism,” stressing that the work, this time, is targeted “towards the economic empowerment of all Africans.”
He noted that “With a population of about two billion and an estimated combined GDP of approximately 4 trillion US dollars, an integrated, ring-fenced economy of the people of African descent presents an unparalleled economic opportunity for those within it. But to realise the opportunities, we must turn Global Africa into a cohesive and coherent market.”
According to him, “The divide-and-conquer strategy that colonialism and neo-colonialism used to tear us apart must end; we must regain confidence in ourselves and our abilities. We must take deliberate actions to produce within our communities, sell within our communities, and take pride in consuming what is produced within our communities.”
Noting that the the concept of “Global Africa can be defined as Pan-Africanism underpinned by markets, and the capital we own and control,” Professor Oramah stressed that the celebration of the African Diaspora Day, at the Intra African Trade Fair (IATF), “where we are all exposed to unparalleled Global Africa market opportunities across commodities, manufactures, the creative industry, and other services,” must be seen as pivotal in driving the new Global Africa agenda.
Full text of Professor Oramah’s address reads:
Speech by Prof. Benedict O. Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, African Export-Import Bank (“Afreximbank” or “the Bank”) on the Occasion of the African Diaspora Day at Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), held in Algiers, Algeria, on September 5, 2025
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government
His Excellency, Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chair of the IATF Advisory
Council
Heads of Partner International Organisations and their representatives
Honourable Ministers
Your Excellencies, Messrs Christopher Edordu and Jean Louis Ekra, former Presidents of Afreximbank
His Excellency, Amb. Martin Kimani, President and CEO, The Africa Centre, New York
Members of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) Advisory Council
Senior Executive Vice President and Executive Vice Presidents at Afreximbank
Heads of Afreximbank Subsidiaries
Corporate leaders
Colleagues at Afreximbank
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour to address this august gathering.
Were he alive today, Frantz Fanon would have celebrated his 100th birthday in July this year. It is indeed remarkable that, in the year of his centenary, we gather in Algiers to mark Africa Diaspora Day at IATF2025. As a young pan-Africanist, Frantz Fanon, a native of Martinique in the Caribbean, joined his brave brothers and sisters here in Algeria in the struggle against the ravages of colonialism.
His work in the 1950s reminds us of the significance of today’s events, which is that Africans must unite wherever they may be, regardless of beliefs, colour, gender, or political persuasion. This has become more urgent in today’s world, where in many cases people of African
descent are singled out for suspicion and ill-treatment. And despite our numbers, despite our abundant resources, we have been unable to rise above the odium of scorn and disrespect, because for years we have been divided, fragmented, and made to hate one another. If the life of Frantz Fanon teaches us anything, it is that unity is possible if there is the will.
As we mark the Diaspora Day, we are reminded that the work ahead of us is to use the force of our collective endeavours and knowledge to build a solid economy for ourselves and by ourselves. The opportunity is enormous but has remained latent because we have failed to awaken it.
With a population of about two billion and an estimated combined GDP of approximately 4 trillion US dollars, an integrated, ring-fenced economy of the people of African descent presents an unparalleled economic opportunity for those within it. But to realise the opportunities, we must turn Global Africa into a cohesive and coherent market. The divide-and-conquer strategy that colonialism and neo-colonialism used to tear us apart must end; we must regain confidence in ourselves and our abilities. We must take deliberate actions to produce within our communities, sell within our communities, and take pride in consuming what is produced within our communities. For instance, people of African descent have produced some of the world’s best sprinters, long-distance runners, and soccer players. Yet, there is no arrangement to harness their talents for economic gains. The result is that we have been sweat labourers while those who control the games and the talents smile to the bank as sweat merchants, getting rich as we get poorer.
So, today, Your Excellencies, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, on Frantz Fanon’s centenary, in a country where he helped redefine Pan-Africanism, we take the effort of the 1950s a step further by beginning to erect the super-structure of Global Africa on the foundations of Pan-Africanism.
On the basis that our concept of Global Africa can be defined as Pan-Africanism underpinned by markets, and the capital we own and control, we see today’s events as pivotal in driving that new agenda. It is holding at the IATF, where we are all exposed to unparalleled Global Africa market opportunities across commodities, manufactures, the creative industry, and other services; it also convenes an extensive array of financiers of all types and from all locations. It takes place under the auspices of an impressive array of political leadership of continental Africa, the CARICOM, and elsewhere. And shortly, we would be launching the Africa Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC), a direct response by Afreximbank and its partners to ensure that Africans begin to trade what Africa produces.
I must, therefore, thank all our leaders who found the time to join us here today. I am aware that most of you are headed to the 2nd CARICOM-African Union Summit holding in Addis Ababa on September 7th, 2025. We thank you for managing to squeeze in this event in your schedule and for your tremendous support for our work towards the economic empowerment of all Africans.
In particular, we thank you for supporting the effort to establish the Global Africa Commission as the institutional vehicle for driving this initiative. We hope that you will strongly canvass this agenda at the summit.
We also hope that, gradually, we will begin to see our dreams come true regarding the launch of the Global Africa Athletics Championship, an expanded Unity Cup to promote football competition among African and Caribbean countries, etcetera.
Allow me to close by, once again, extending our appreciation to the Government and people of Algeria, under the leadership of H.E. President Abdelmajid Tebboune, for giving us the opportunity to hold this event. Special thanks to all the dignitaries as well as artists, performers, speakers, partners, etc, who made this day interactive and impactful.
I thank you for your attention
Prof Benedict Oramah
President and Chairman of the Board of Directors
