| Kingsley Obiora | |
| Office1: | Deputy Governor of Economic Policy at the Central Bank of Nigeria |
| Term Start1: | 16 January 2020 |
| Term End1: | 15 September 2023 |
| Predecessor1: | Professor Joseph Nnanna |
| Birth Date: | 6 March 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Oshimili South, Delta State, Nigeria |
| Spouse: | Rita Obiora |
| Education: | University of Benin and University of Ibadan |
| Occupation: | Banker |
Kingsley Obiora is a Nigerian banker who served as the Deputy Governor of Economic Policy at the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2020 to 2023.[1] [2] He was the deputy governor under the former governor Godwin Emefiele until his suspension.
On 15 September 2023, a major news articles in Nigeria claimed that all deputy governors of the CBN mainly Folashodun Shonubi, Aishah Ahmad, Edward Lametek Adamu and Kingsley Obiora were removed from office alongside their principal, Godwin Emefiele.[3] [4] [5]
Obiora holds a bachelor's degree in economics and statistics from the University of Benin in 1999.[6] He proceeded to the University of Ibadan for an MSc in economics, and subsequently a PhD in monetary and international economics.[7]
Obiora was appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on 16 January 2020 by president Muhammadu Buhari, and he was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on 30 January 2020.[8] [9] [10] Obiora joined the International Monetary Fund in 2007, and worked at the European Department.[11] Between 2003 and 2006, he worked at the Centre for Econometric and Allied Research (CEAR), and from 2014 to 2018, he served as Special Adviser to the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, and subsequently joined the IMF again as alternate executive director between 2018 and 2019[12] He was also a technical adviser to the economic management team of president Goodluck Jonathan between 2011 and 2014.[13]
Obiora was removed from office in September 2023 alongside other three deputy governors.[14] President Bola Tinubu had ordered an investigation into the affairs of the central bank under the management of Godwin Emefiele and his deputies.[15] [16] On 1 September 2023, it was alleged that Obiora had been arrested by the Department of State Security over investigative issues of CBN,[17] [18] although he was released later.[19]