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The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is sad to learn that Professor Benno Ndulu, an economist, former Governor of the Central Bank of Tanzania, friend of the ECA and an advocate of its work, has died aged 71.

A longstanding Visiting Professor at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School, Mr. Ndulu was a Senior Adviser on the Digital Pathways at Oxford programme, a position that saw him work closely with the Economic Commission for Africa.

In his last visit to the think tank in 2019, he stated: “The ECA is instrumental in fostering the digital work in Africa. It has the right disposition and reach to countries, including the leadership.”

Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, said the ECA had lost a trusted, selfless friend who believed in putting Africa first and saw the institution as a trusted partner and leader in the digital sphere.

“We have lost a dedicated friend in Professor Ndulu. He passionately worked with us as we developed the continent’s Digital Transformation Strategy. We will miss his energy and zeal to ensure digitalisation is indeed a solution for growth and development on our continent,” she said.

Mr. Ndulu was also Academic Co-Director of the Pathways for Prosperity Commission, also based at the Blavatnik School where he officially became a Visiting Professor in 2018. During his career he also worked at the World Bank as a Lead Economist and was involved in setting up and developing one of the most effective research and training networks in Africa, the African Economic Research Consortium. 

“That he was an extraordinarily prolific man was evident from his resume – central bank governor, set up Tanzania’s revenue service, long time World Bank senior economist, established a pan-African economic research network, was on President Ramaphosa’s economic advisory council, represented the IDA-recipient countries in negotiations with the World Bank about lending priorities,” read a statement from the Blavatnik School.

“But what could not have been told from reading the long list of his achievements, was his humility. He was a true public servant, deferential to everyone in his urgent desire to support progress, when others in his position might have demanded deference to themselves.” 

Mr. Ndulu died yesterday at Hubert Kairuki Memorial Hospital in Dar es Salaam after a short illness.

Issued by The Economic Commission for Africa