Yemi Kale

Yemi Kale is a Nigerian economist, statistician, and public policy expert who is currently the Group Chief Economist and Managing Director of Research and Trade Intelligence at the African Export Import Bank. He was the Statistician General of the National Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria from 2011 to 2021. Under his tenure, the GDP of Nigeria was recalculated, and following the recalculation, declared the largest GDP in Africa. At the National Bureau of Statistics he led what has been described as a data revolution modernizing data systems and reforming the institution and transforming it into a globally recognized and respected institution enhancing credibility and public trust in Nigeria’s official data. He was also Partner, Chief Economist and Head of West African Research at KPMG Financial Services, Technical Adviser to the Nigerian Minister of Budget and National Planning, Special Adviser to the Nigerian Minister of Finance and Group Head of Research and Investment Strategy at Investment Banking and Trust Company, now Stanbic IBTC Bank.

Life He was born into a family of medical professionals. His father, Oladele Kale, a preventive and social medicine professor. His mother Aderonke Kale was a military psychiatrist who became the first female major-general in the Nigerian Army, rising to command the Nigerian Army Medical Corps. Yemi Kale graduated with a BSc (first-class honours) in economics from Addis Ababa University. Additionally, he holds an MSc (with distinction) as well as a PhD in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He was subsequently reappointed in 2016 making him the first and so far the only chief executive in the agency's history to serve two terms as statistician general. Kale is also a member of the boards of Dataphyte, Accountability Lab, SFS Capital Nigeria, Limited and many others. Before assuming office Kale acted as a special adviser to the Nigerian Minister of Finance and later as a technical adviser to the Nigerian Minister of Budget and National Planning as well as group head of research and strategy at Investment Banking and Trust Company, now Stanbic IBTC Bank. In addition, Kale is a member of the World Economics Association, UK Royal Economic Society, and a fellow of the UK Royal Statistical Society. Dr Kale is a recipient of severel private, public and international awards for exceptional performance throughout his career which cuts across the public, private sectors and from international organizations. Since successfully completing his two tenures as Statistician General, he was appointed Chief Economist and Head is West Africa Research at KPMG Financial Services and is currently Group Chief Economist and Managing Director at the African Export Import Bank.

Recognition Kale was awarded the African Financial Analyst of the Year award by the African Investor magazine in 2009. Kale was also awarded the National Productivity Order of Merit by the Nigerian President in February 2017. He has served on several presidential committees and advisory bodies and is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government leadership in government as well as the IMD Business School High Performance Leadership Programs amongst others.