- 17 February 2023
New UBA-SL MD-CEO Meets Finance Minister
The Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of United Bank for Africa Sierra Leone, Mohamed Alhajie Samoura, has on Thursday, 16th February 2023 paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Finance at his George Street office, in Freetown.
Introducing the new MD/CEO to the Minister, the outgoing MD/CEO, Usman Imam Isiaka informed that he has completed his service in Sierra Leone, and was pleased to hand over to a young, dynamic and competent Sierra Leonean in the person of Mohamed Alhajie Samoura.
He continued that UBA is the United Bank for Africa and not for Nigeria, which is why the is grooming citizens to run the bank’s affairs in the different countries of operations.
Usman Isiaka said Mohamed Alhajie Samoura has the capacity and experience to excel in his new role and therefore solicits the cooperation and support of the Government and people of Sierra Leone.
The Minister of Finance, Ahmed Sheku Fantamadi Bangura congratulated the new MD/CEO Mohamed Alhajie Samoura on his appointment and registered commitment to continue to work with UBA-SL.
He described the role as a big one but also expressed confidence in the Mohamed Alhajie Samoura’s competence and experience.
Minister Bangura encouraged Mohamed Alhajie Samoura to be supportive of the government and to come up with innovative ways of collaboration, especially in the areas of regulatory challenges and debt market re-engineering.
For his part, the new MD/CEO, Mohamed Alhajie Samoura thanked his predecessor and reassured all of doing his best with his 17 years of experience in the banking industry to build on the gains already made by the bank.
He assured the Minister of Finance of continuing the collaboration with the government, stating that they are looking for innovative ways to support the government and contractors.
“I know I am not only representing myself in this role but also Sierra Leone, and if I succeed, it will open doors for other Sierra Leoneans” he added.
Similar sentiments of congratulations and commitments to support were expressed by the Deputy Minister of Finance, Bockarie Kalakoh and Financial Secretary Sahr Lahai Jusu.