{"id":14668,"date":"2025-10-16T21:38:23","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T21:38:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/?p=14668"},"modified":"2025-10-16T21:38:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T21:38:24","slug":"sierra-leone-diaspora-investment-forum-ignites-optimism-and-action-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/?p=14668","title":{"rendered":"Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Forum Ignites Optimism and Action in London"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On Wednesday 15th October 2025, London\u2019s famous Strand centre in Holborn came alive as the Sierra Leone High Commission hosted a *Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Networking Forum*\u2014an inspiring, action-driven gathering of people generally united around one goal: building a prosperous Sierra Leone through investment and collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Far from being a mere talk-shop, the event brought together people who are acting for Sierra Leone\u2014visionaries, entrepreneurs, designers, policymakers, and innovators\u2014working to unlock the nation\u2019s boundless potential across multiple sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the distinguished guests present were His Excellency Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to the United Kingdom, and Her Excellency Josephine Gauld, LVO, British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone. Their presence underscored the deepening partnership and shared commitment between the two nations to strengthen economic cooperation and foster sustainable growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, one of Sierra Leone\u2019s most brilliant and forward-thinking leaders, captured hearts and minds with his optimism and insight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introducing him, Deputy High Commissioner Mrs. Yvonne King Odigboh described Dr. Sengeh as \u201ca man who represents the bold, youthful, and forward-thinking leadership redefining Sierra Leone\u2019s place on the global stage.\u201d  Someone who is \u201cpassionate about building a future where young people thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Harvard and MIT graduate, Dr. Sengeh is not only an inventor and innovator but also an inspirer\u2014one whose ideas ignite possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his address, he laid out a clear, confident case for investing in Sierra Leone. Avoiding pessimism, he focused on progress and potential: reforms in land and intellectual property laws, adherence to arbitration processes, and strong guarantees for investor security. He highlighted the government\u2019s impressive fiscal discipline, noting the drop in inflation from over 50% to about 5%, a sign of renewed stability and productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe country is more than ready for investment\u2014and it is open for partnership,\u201d Dr. Sengeh declared. He urged Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora and global investors alike to seize opportunities in agriculture, digital finance, tourism, and infrastructure. Citing the success of Vult, Sierra Leone\u2019s first digital financial super app\u2014supported by Mastercard and regulated by the Bank of Sierra Leone\u2014he praised its role in integrating banking, mobile money, and card services on a single platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the Chief Minister\u2019s address, Dr. Foday Dumbuya, the British\u2013Sierra Leonean fashion designer and founder of LABRUM London, shared his journey. His label, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in 2023, bridges Sierra Leonean heritage with British craftsmanship. \u201cFor me, anything that puts Sierra Leone on the map interests me,\u201d he said passionately before premiering a short film that captured his creative ethos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Sidi Saccoh of Vult followed with an engaging presentation on how the fintech platform is advancing financial inclusion, empowering small businesses, and supporting Sierra Leone\u2019s digital transformation. \u201cConnectivity is no longer just about speed\u2014it\u2019s about inclusion,\u201d he said. Emphasizing collaboration, he added: \u201cEvery nation you admire today was once powered by its diaspora. They didn\u2019t wait for perfect systems\u2014they built them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A highlight of the evening was the roundtable panel discussion, moderated by Chukwu-Emeka \u201cChux\u201d Chikezie, a British-born development expert of Sierra Leonean heritage and co-founder of the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD). Honoured with an MBE for his service to diaspora development, Chikezie currently leads Invest Salone, a UK-funded private sector growth programme. His moderation steered a rich, solutions-focused exchange on innovation, investment, and inclusive development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The panel featured a lineup of outstanding voices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022    Naomi Sesay, media executive and former Channel 4 Head of Creative Diversity, championing women\u2019s empowerment and the Matamp Smart City Project in Sierra Leone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022    Dr. Foday Dumbuya, founder of LABRUM London, bridging design, identity, and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022    Anisa Johnny, fashion educator and sustainability strategist, advocating for ethical brands and creative entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022    Nelson Dos Santos, CEO of Kijani Carbon, promoting natural climate solutions for Africa\u2019s ecological and economic resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022    Sidi Saccoh, tech entrepreneur and strategist with experience across 20+ countries, driving innovation and financial inclusion through Vult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event was seamlessly steered by Mr. Sahr Dugba and Ms. Sandra Rogers, Trade Attach\u00e9s at the Sierra Leone High Commission, whose poised co-MCing kept the energy high from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the evening closed, one sentiment echoed through the hall: Sierra Leone\u2019s future, under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, is bright\u2014and its diaspora remains an essential force in shaping the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdulai Braima<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Information Attach\u00e9<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Wednesday 15th October 2025, London\u2019s famous Strand centre in Holborn came alive as the Sierra Leone High Commission hosted a *Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Networking Forum*\u2014an inspiring, action-driven gathering of people generally united around one goal: building a prosperous Sierra Leone through investment and collaboration. Far from being a mere talk-shop, the event brought…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14668"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14683,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14668\/revisions\/14683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.slhc-uk.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}