Meet Chinwe Egwim, newly appointed CFF chief economist

In this post, News360 Nigeria highlights all you should know about Chinwe Egwim, CFF new chief economist.

Chinwe Egwim is a distinguished Nigerian economist, banker, corporate executive, and author.

The Collaborative for Frontier Finance (CFF), an Inclusive Finance Company based in Kenya, recently appointed her as the Chief Economist and Director of Research and Impact Lab.

She also serves as the Chief Economist and Head of Economic Research and Intelligence at Coronation Merchant Bank.

Before this, she held the position of Lead Economist at FBNQuest Merchant Bank and was an active executive member of WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business, and Public Service).

Birth

Chinwe Egwim was birthed on October 28 in Warri, Delta State, Chinwe Egwim hails from Imo State.

Her father, Chief Paschal Egwim, is the Director General and CEO of the Bureau of Public Procurement and Price Intelligence in Imo State and a former senior executive at Shell E&P.

Education

She had a diverse early education, attending the British School in Assen, Netherlands, and Montessori International School in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

She completed her secondary education at Federal Government Girls’ College, Owerri, and Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary School in Port Harcourt.

Egwim pursued higher education in Ghana, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

She furthered her studies at the European School of Economics and obtained a master’s degree in Financial Economics from Kingston University London.

Career Journey

Chinwe Egwim began her career in 2009 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), where she worked within the Fiscal Division Unit of the research department.

She later served as a research analyst at African Positive Outlook (now Helmar Care and Community Services LTD) in the United Kingdom.

In 2013, Egwim joined Fitch Ratings in Milan, Italy, as part of the Sub-National Ratings team, focusing on economic conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Upon returning to Nigeria, she became the Lead Economist at FBNQuest Merchant Bank and was the Resident Economist for the Africa Investment Roundtable.

Since 2021, Egwim has held the prestigious role of Chief Economist at Coronation Merchant Bank and was also elected as an executive member of the Association of Professional Women Bankers under the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria

In 2023, she was appointed to the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, tasked with redesigning Nigeria’s fiscal policies under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Advocacy

In addition to her work in the banking sector, Egwim has been a vocal advocate for development finance as a tool for poverty alleviation and economic empowerment.

She has collaborated with international development organizations to design and implement programs aimed at improving access to finance for underserved populations, particularly women and small businesses.

Her contributions have had a significant impact on financial inclusion efforts in Nigeria and across Africa.

Public speaking leadership

Egwim is a prominent voice in macroeconomic discussions, delivering speeches at numerous public and private summits.

She has made guest appearances on BBC, CNBC Africa, Arise News, and Channels TV, among others. In 2019, she gave a TED Talk on the importance of empowering the female economy to drive national economic prosperity.

Publications

Chinwe Egwim is the author of Understanding Economic “Jargon” (2020) and Super E: The Inflation Smackdown (2023).

She has also published various articles on economic issues, including pieces on public finances and the digital economy.

Awards and recognition

Egwim’s work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Career Woman of the Year at the HER Network Awards in 2018 and the Positive Role Model – West Africa at the Accenture Gender Mainstreaming Awards in 2021.

She has been featured in various power lists, including those by Leading Ladies Africa and BellaNaija, recognizing her as one of Nigeria’s most influential women in banking.

Chinwe Egwim continues to be a trailblazer in Nigeria’s economic landscape, making significant contributions to both the public and private sectors.