By Forum Staff Writer

EST Applied Intelligence, a cybersecurity firm based in the UK is collaborating with one of Sierra Leone’s leading banks, Rokel Commercial Bank to organize a one day symposium on Cybersecurity and Financial Inclusion at the Freetown City Council Auditorium on the 22nd February, 2024.

The symposium, the first -ever to be spearheaded by a local financial institution in the country -will be bringing together political leaders, industry leader’s experts and innovators to principally discuss the country’s capacity and preparedness to confront and neutralize potential cyberattacks on our financial system.As the bank repositions itself for international competitiveness, it recently announced five top priorities it will be rolling out to actualize its vision for 2024. This development came after the bank’s CEO; Dr Walton Ekundayo Gilpin was recognized African Banker of the Year 2023 by the UK based Reputation Poll International.

Sources say there is palpable excitement within the financial sector as the Symposium is expected to engineer a blueprint for a robust cybersecurity environment for Sierra Leone’s financial system.

The Symposium will also discuss ways Cybersecurity enhances financial inclusion and will outline the manifesto of the African Banker of the Year. Dr. Gilpin indicated that these are exciting times for the financial sector and human capacity development in Sierra Leone.