Emmanuel Assiak has been appointed as the CEO of the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the equity investment arm of Afreximbank.
Mr Assiak will lead FEDA as it expands investments that support export development, industrialisation, value addition, and intra-African trade across the continent. His appointment comes at a pivotal stage in FEDA’s growth as it continues to mobilise and deploy long-term capital into strategic sectors aligned with Afreximbank’s development agenda.
Dr George Elombi, President and Chairman of both the Board of Directors of Afreximbank and FEDA, commented: “Mr Assiak’s leadership, deep institutional knowledge, and understanding of Africa’s private equity market are critical to strengthening Africa’s private sector, a key driver of Africa’s intra-African trade and economic transformation. Given his track record, we expect FEDA to continue to mobilise and deploy strategic investments aimed at accelerating industrialisation, value addition, and boosting export development across the continent.”
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Emmanuel Assiak, Chief Executive Officer, FEDA, said: “I extend my sincere appreciation to the Board of Directors of FEDA and Afreximbank for their continued trust and confidence. FEDA is contributing significantly to mobilising long-term capital for Africa’s export and industrial sectors, and we will build on the established strong foundation. Together with our partners, FEDA will deepen its impact by scaling investments that unlock value, strengthen intra-African trade, and support the continent’s industrialisation agenda.”
Rich Experience
Assiak, who holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Manchester Business School, a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Lagos and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Cross River State (now University of Uyo).
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and holds an executive certification in Private Equity at the Coller Institute, London Business School.
Assiak has been closely involved in FEDA’s development since its inception, having served as Pioneer Director and Managing Director/Chief Investment Officer since May 2022, and most recently as the interim Chief Executive Officer since November 2025.
During his tenure as Chief Investment Officer, he played a key role in establishing FEDA’s investment platforms and building its portfolio, contributing significantly to the growth and institutional development.
He was also Director of the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) – African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) between September 2019 and July 2022.
With more than 30 years of experience in financial services, including nearly two decades in private equity, he brings deep expertise in investment management, capital deployment, transaction structuring, and value creation across African markets. He has also held senior roles in the Nigerian banking sector, including at Zenith Bank Plc. and Continental Trust Bank (now part of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group).
