The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) Ungwaga Roberts Orya is a workaholic to the core and stickler to perfection in business dealing for the benefit of investing public and ordinary citizens.
Since his appointment in August 14, 2009, Orya has shown he is a leader to be trusted in encouraging Nigerian investors to be involved in business and economic activities in the continent of Africa and globally.
Recently, his bank had set aside the sum of N6bn to enable Nigerian manufacturers to deepen exports within the West African sub-region. The amount, Economic Confidential learnt, would enable the bank create about 25, 862 jobs in the 2011 fiscal year as well as enable it effectively play its mandate in key areas of the economy.
Established by Act of parliament 38 of 1991 as an export credit agency, the bank is charged with the responsibility of providing export credit guarantee, local currency, management of funds and export credit insurance facilities to exporters.
The management of the bank under him is pursuing a vigorous policy of growing the manufacturing, agriculture, solid mineral, services and other non-oil sectors to ensure the robust growth of the economy in consistent with the federal government’s objective of diversifying the economy on a sustainable basis.
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On efforts made by the management to recover the non-performing loan portfolio of the bank, Orya said that as at the end of last year, about N540m had been recovered. He however added that the amount was still minimal and as such, a remedial management department would soon be set up within the bank to facilitate the recovery of these loans.
Mr. Ungwaga Roberts Orya attended University of Ibadan, Nigeria and graduated with an M.Sc in Banking and Finance. He also has a Diploma in Accounting from Benue Polytechnic.
His experience spans over 25 years in Banking and Finance covering Investment, retail, Commercial and Mortgage Banking, corporate finance, and treasury management having worked in several Financial Institutions. His career in banking began in February 1984 when he joined the services of International Merchant Bank Plc and worked up until September 1990 when he left to join Credite Bank of Nigeria Limited briefly as a pioneer staff. He was then seconded to Prime Merchant Bank Ltd in July 1991 as Head of Operations.
Mr Orya subsequently moved to Pace Mortgage Finance Ltd in October 1992 as the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer. He thereafter joined Lobi Bank of Nigeria Ltd in January 1994 and later became the Managing Director and Executive Chairman until January 1998 when he was reassigned to Premier Commercial Bank Plc as an Executive Director. Mr Orya’s last appointment was as an Executive Director in charge of Capital Markets, Financial Advisory Services and Research & Strategy with Afribank Capital Ltd. He held the position until his recent appointment on 14th August 2009, as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank.
Mr. Orya is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and London (ACIBN), Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria and Nigeria Institute of Management. He is also a Member of the Institute of Management Consultants.
Mr. Orya who is from Benue State, is happily married with children.
