Kingsley Obiora: The Quiet Operator at CBN

There are all kinds of people in this world, many of whom are striving to be great, and others that appear to have grasped the secret behind greatness. Kingsley Obiora, the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), belongs to the latter group. Despite being one of the most powerful individuals in the country due to his position at the apex bank, Obiora maintains a low profile, quietly discharging the requirements of his role.

Since the naira redesign policy of the CBN took Nigeria by storm, all eyes have been focused on CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele. To the people that consider the policy to be sound and brilliant, Emefiele is a strong pillar raised to return Nigeria to the competition stage with other developing nations. But very few people understand that Emefiele’s stability and strength derive in part from Obiora’s virtuosity.

To those that know very little about the CBN Deputy Governor, Obiora is a brilliant young man that has come a long way. At 46, he has shown himself to be capable of holding down the fort in the absence of his boss, going so far as helping to strengthen the economy of Nigeria against economic crises and disasters.

Obiora can play such a strong and vital role due to his robust experience in the corporate sector. Before becoming Number Two at CBN, he worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the United States as one of the organisation’s alternate executive directors. So efficient was Obiora in the performance of his duties that he was tasked with representing the interests of 23 African countries, including Nigeria, at the IMF Executive Board.

Much remains to be said about the man from the South-south. However, he prefers to keep a low profile as he attends to his duties at CBN. Even now, with CBN at the thick of things, Obiora remains a distinguished individual that only cares about his obligations and executes them exquisitely.