Erudite economist and banker, Dr. Joseph Okwu Nnanna, has filled the vacuum left at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, who exited the apex bank late last year at the end of his five-year term as Deputy Governor.

Dr. Nnanna was yesterday unanimously confirmed as a CBN Deputy Governor by the Senate followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions presented by Senator Isa Galaudu, which recommended his confirmation.

President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded Nnanna’s name to the Senate early last November, requesting his confirmation as Moghalu’s successor.

A former Director of Research at the CBN, Dr. Nnanna served as Special Assistant to the CBN Governor from 1994 to 1999. He was previously a staff economist and desk officer in the African Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC.

He graduated from the William Paterson University (New Jersey) and the University of Houston, Texas, United States. Nnanna holds degrees, majoring in public policy and economics.

•Photo shows CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele (right) chatting with Dr. Joseph Nnanna (left) at a public forum.