Chinwe Egwim

Chinwe Egwim is a Nigerian economist, banker, corporate executive, and author, who is chief economist at First Bank Group, where she leads enterprise-wide economic intelligence, supports executive, and board-level decision making across the Group's multi-market operations, across its subsidiaries.

She has served as a National Consultant on a programme on services trade and regional integration under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and served on the Board of Economists at BusinessDay Media.

Early life Chinwe Egwim was born on 28 October in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria, and is from Imo State. She spent part of her early childhood in the Netherlands, where she attended the British School in the Netherlands. She later returned to Nigeria, attending Federal Government Girls' College, Owerri, and a master's degree in Financial Economics from Kingston University, London. She also studied at the European School of Economics in Milan, Italy.

Early career: CBN, and African Positive Outlook In 2009, Chinwe began her career, working at the Fiscal Division Unit within the research department at Central Bank of Nigeria, where she was exposed to the intricacies of government revenue and expenditure analysis. In 2011, she served as a research analyst at African Positive Outlook (now Helmar Care and Community Services LTD) in the United Kingdom.

Fitch Ratings, and FBNQuest In 2013, Chinwe joined Fitch Ratings as part of the sub-National Ratings team in Milan Italy, where she analyzed economic conditions in sub-Saharan African countries, contributing to credit risk rating reports and various written outputs. Following her return to Nigeria, she joined FBNQuest Merchant Bank, and also served as the Resident Economist for Africa Investment Roundtable, a research-based initiative. In 2019, her thought leadership article focused on the interlinkage between women and Africa trade was featured on the World Economic Forum.

2021–2026:Coronation Merchant Bank On 28 June 2021, Coronation Merchant Bank Limited appointed Chinwe Egwim as the Chief Economist and Head of Economic Research and Intelligence at Coronation Merchant Bank. In 2023, Chinwe was appointed a member of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee. The committee was established by the 16th and current president of Nigeria Bola Tinubu, to review and redesign Nigeria's fiscal system for revenue mobilisation, quality of government spending, and sustainable debt management. In 2021, she was invited as an economic influencer by Mary Beth Leonard, where she contributed to dialogues around emerging Africa. In 2023, Chinwe delivered the keynote speech at the West Africa Global Trade Review Summit themed, A New Dawn: Plotting a Course for West African Trade. She also delivered the keynote speech at the 2024 100 Women in Finance Macroeconomic Outlook Event, held in Nigeria.

Books Understanding Economic "Jargon" (2020) Super E: the Inflation Smackdown (2023)

Select publications An industry in need of stitches (2016). State government finances: A curate’s egg (2016). The squeeze on consumers’ pockets (2016). The ugly truth: Public finances on a precipice (2017). Towards a business-friendly environment (2017). Digital economy, still scratching the surface (2018). Economic landscape: 2017 in review (2018).

Awards and recognition Awards

Recognition 2017: Inspired by Glory cited her in their #womensupportingwomen Power List. 2018: Leading Ladies Africa named her, as one of Nigeria's Most Influential Women. 2018: YNaija listed her on its Power List of most influential personalities. 2019: BellaNaija cited her on its list of 48 Women Who Are Champions of Nigeria's Banking Industry. 2020: MIPAD Under 40 in Business & Entrepreneurship – Most Influential People of African Descent. 2024: Selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.