Dr. Chris Osiomha Itsede

Dr. Chris Osiomha Itsede was the immediate pioneer Director General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) for 12 years. In 1980, he began his professional career in the Research Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria and subsequently rose steadily through the various professional Economist cadres in the Bank. As the desk officer for economic integration and cooperation in Africa, Dr Itsede was deeply involved in the drafting and negotiations of the treaty of the African Economic Community (now AU), the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim) and the revised treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

In January 1997, he was seconded to WAIFEM as the pioneer Director General having effectively chaired the Technical Committee that drove the process leading to the establishment of the institute. Dr Itsede built up the regional capacity building institution from scratch to become a Centre of Excellence in Africa in the fields of macroeconomics and finance.

He retired from WAIFEM in January 2009, having meritoriously served the Central Bank of Nigeria and WAIFEM. Since then, he has chaired the Board of Directors of Polar-Afrique Consulting. He also serves on the Board of Osomhe Microfinance Bank which he co-founded. Dr Itsede has also at various times served on the Board of Directors of Mainstreet Bank (now Polaris Bank) and the National Council for Management Development.

He is a life member of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) and was once a co-chair of the African Policy Institutes (APIs). He has published books and scholarly articles in local and international journals.