Nothing can be refused to Nigeria, leading economic power on the continent, with its 177 million inhabitants and emerging middle class. The country has just achieved an impressive performance of its capacity of influence and lobbying. This September 2015, 3 Nigerians will simultaneously take the command of 3 major Pan African financial institutions being the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Ecobank group and the African Bank of import-export Afreximbank.

3 successes in 2 weeks

On 28 May, it was the Nigerian minister of Agriculture Akinwumi Adesina who won the continental competition for the presidency of the African Development Bank. At the final round of voting, he received 58% of votes against the ministers of Finance of Chad and Cape Verde. Starting on 1st September, he will succeed to the Rwandan Donald Kaberuka.

To win the presidency of the leading financial institution of the continent rated AAA, Mr Adesina actively campaigned to the African governments, but most importantly to the non-African shareholders who represent 40% of votes. Coincidentally or not, at the end of March 2015 and a few weeks from the elections, as the Minister of Agriculture, he opened the substantial Nigerian market to wheat imports from France at the expense of the United States. "Nigeria has always enjoyed an excellent relationship with France", he said at the time.

On 8 June, Ecobank, the Pan African leading bank when considering its extensive network (34 sub-Saharan countries), appointed Ade Ayeyemi as its new chief executive. He will be teaming up with the chairman of the Board, Emmanuel Ikazoboh, also a Nigerian. Presently general director of Citigroup for sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Ayeyemi will also start in his new functions this September 1st.

Finally, on 13 June, it was Benedict Oramah who was appointed at the head of Afreximbank, the African bank of import-export based in Cairo, during the 22nd general meeting of the institution which took place in Lusaka. Mr Oramah, who takes over from the Ivorian Jean-Louis Ekra, will start in his new function in early September.

The 3 nominations in parallel will give Nigeria a certain advantage in the financing of major development projects, in corporate lending and continental trade.