Gabriel Edgal is a Nigerian banking executive with extensive experience in financial services across Africa. He is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)[1] of Oakwood Green Africa Limited, a Pan-African group of companies involved in banking, financial advisory, trade, technology, human capital development, and SME business acceleration.[2] He is also the promoter of Bloom Bank Africa, a pan-African banking franchise with subsidiaries in Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
Early life and education
Gabriel Edgal holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Benin and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos. He is an alumnus of INSEAD Business School, where he pursued executive education in strategic management.
Career
Oakwood Green Africa
At Oakwood Green Africa, Edgal has been an advocate[3][4][5] for Afeconomic growth and financial integration across Africa. He has been involved in initiatives that focus on trade finance, digital financial services, financial technology, and cross-border payments, including partnerships with Afreximbank and the Pan-Africa Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to enhance intra-African trade.
First Atlantic Bank, Ghana
From 2013 to 2016, Edgal was the Managing Director and CEO of First Atlantic Bank[6]Ghana
United Bank for Africa (UBA)
Prior to his tenure at First Atlantic Bank, Edgal held several key leadership positions at United Bank for Africa (UBA):
- CEO, Africa Region (2011–2013)
- CEO, West Africa (2011–2013)
- MD/CEO, UBA Ghana (2009–2011)
- Directorate Head, Lagos, and West Bank (2012–2013), Western Nigeria.
Early career
Edgal started his career at Credit Lyonnais Nigeria (now Capital Bank International Limited), where he served in various treasury and investment banking roles before taking senior positions at Guaranty Trust Bank and Ecobank Nigeria.
Pan-African advocacy
Edgal is a strong advocate for digital payment systems and their role in stabilizing African economies. He has spoken about how digital financial solutions[7]can mitigate currency depreciation and enhance trade across the continent.[8] [9][10][11][12][13][14]
External links
- Oakwood Green Africa Official Website
- Bloom Bank Africa
- First Atlantic Bank Ghana
- Afreximbank
- University of Benin
- University of Lagos
- INSEAD Business School
References
- ^ "About Us". Oakwood Green Africa. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ^ "Oakwood Green Is the Company Putting African Women-Owned Businesses First | by Suban Abdulla". AMAKA Studio. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
- ^ "Afreximbank's digital platforms to facilitate trade and boost economic dev't in Ghana". 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ^ Awal, Mohammed (2023-06-30). "Afreximbank's digital platforms revolutionize trade and fuel economic growth". The Business & Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ^ Awal, Mohammed (2023-06-30). "Afreximbank's digital platforms revolutionize trade and fuel economic growth". The Business & Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ^ "First Atlantic Bank appoints new CEO". Graphic Online. 2016-07-08. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ^ Oakwood Green Africa (2023-06-23). Gabriel Edgal's speech at the launch of the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG). Retrieved 2025-02-05 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Afreximbank takes financing roadshow to Liberia as it seeks to boost trade & Investment". African Export-Import Bank. 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ^ "FEDA invests in Bloom Africa Holdings Limited to support its expansion in West Africa". African Export-Import Bank. 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ^ Newspaper, The Calabash (2023-05-12). "AfreximBank & Oakwood Green Africa Engage the Press | The Calabash Newspaper". Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ^ Oakwood Green Africa (2024-10-13). Gabriel Edgal's submission at the Biashara Afrika Conference 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-05 – via YouTube.
- ^ Oakwood Green Africa (2024-01-30). Gabriel Edgal's speech at the launch of Bloom Bank Africa Liberia Limited. Retrieved 2025-02-05 – via YouTube.
- ^ Oakwood Green Africa (2022-09-12). Gabriel Edgal's submission at the Africaribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2022 in Barbados. Retrieved 2025-02-05 – via YouTube.
- ^ Newspaper, The Calabash (2023-05-12). "AfreximBank & Oakwood Green Africa Engage the Press | The Calabash Newspaper". Retrieved 2025-02-05.