Claude Owona Ekoto Appointed Regional Director at IFC

Claude Owona Ekoto, a Cameroonian banking executive, has been appointed Regional Director for the International Finance Corporation's Financial Institutions Group (FIG) for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa. She will oversee IFC partnerships with banks and other financial institutions across the two regions, focusing on expanding access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurs, and private-sector businesses.

Business in Cameroon reports that Claude Owona Ekoto has been appointed Regional Director for the International Finance Corporation's Financial Institutions Group (FIG) for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa. This appointment comes as IFC expands its support for financial institutions in emerging markets. Owona Ekoto succeeds Dahlia Khalifa, with her new role based in Lagos, Nigeria.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has been working to expand access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and private-sector businesses in emerging markets. The IFC's Financial Institutions Group (FIG) supports financial institutions in developing countries by providing risk-sharing facilities, technical assistance, and other forms of support.

Owona Ekoto brings extensive experience in both commercial banking and development finance to her new role. Before joining the IFC as a Senior Investment Officer, she held senior positions at HSBC and Société Générale, including leadership roles in Cameroon and Burkina Faso. Her appointment is significant, given the IFC's focus on expanding its support for financial institutions in emerging markets.

This development has implications for financial institutions operating in Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa. With Owona Ekoto at the helm of the IFC's FIG unit, we can expect increased support for SMEs, entrepreneurs, and private-sector businesses in these regions. Practitioners should watch this space for further developments on how the IFC will implement its expanded mandate.