Sierra Leone’s financial services landscape is undergoing a powerful transformation, driven by a growing commitment to build inclusive, digitally enabled systems that serve every citizen. This vision took centre stage at the second edition of the Sierra Leone Fintech Forum, recently hosted by Interswitch in collaboration with the Bank of Sierra Leone at New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
Bringing together regulators, banks, fintech innovators, mobile money operators, and development partners, the Forum marked a pivotal moment for the country’s digital finance journey and served as a platform for strategic dialogue, ecosystem alignment, collaborative thinking, and collective problem solving, aimed at unlocking the full potential of digital payments and financial inclusion.
From Conversations to Collaboration
Focused on the theme “Access, Inclusion and Growth – Deepening Digital Payments in Sierra Leone,” the event featured a vibrant agenda of keynote sessions, thought-provoking panel discussions, and live product showcases.
The conversations reflected a maturing ecosystem, one ready to address long-standing financial access barriers while embracing the innovations reshaping global finance. From infrastructure gaps and regulatory reforms to the evolving potential of agency banking, stakeholders leaned into the urgent need for a more collaborative and interoperable future.
In his keynote address titled “Building on Progress: Expanding Access, Driving Inclusion, and Fueling Growth for National Prosperity,” Akeem Lawal, Managing Director, Payment Processing and Switching (Interswitch Purepay), laid a strong foundation for the day’s engagements, emphasising the importance of collective action in delivering inclusive growth through digital finance.
Spotlight on Agency Banking
The forum also spotlighted Interswitch’s Agency Banking solutions, a key enabler of financial inclusion for underserved and remote communities. By empowering banks and other financial institutions to extend their reach through a network of local agents, the solution is helping to bridge the gap between formal banking and the millions previously excluded from it. This reflects a broader strategic focus, where technology does not just drive efficiency but delivers real, everyday impact for individuals, SMEs, and entire communities across Sierra Leone.
Big Themes, Bold Conversations
Two panel sessions anchored the day’s discussions. The first, “Banking Beyond Boundaries: Navigating Access, Inclusion, and Innovation in a Digital-First Economy,” explored how banks and regulators are adapting to meet the demands of an increasingly digital population. The session examined how digital payments are transforming financial access, driving economic inclusion, and spurring growth. It covered the role of interoperability, infrastructure, regulation, and collaboration with fintechs in deepening inclusion and expanding reach.
Paul Ohakim – VP, Issuing & Acquiring Management, Verve International joined the panel to offer insights on the role of payment infrastructure in enabling system-wide inclusion. Speakers from top institutions including GTBank, Rokel Bank, UBA, Skye Bank, FBN, and the Bank of Sierra Leone also contributed perspectives on how traditional banks can drive interoperability, enhance trust and security, and support regulatory frameworks to reach underserved populations.
The second session, “Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Unlocking Inclusive Growth Through Interoperable Digital Payments and Strategic Partnerships,” addressed one of the key priorities in Africa’s fintech space today, which is interoperability. Discussions focused on building connected ecosystems that nurture seamless transactions and equitable access across all user segments.
Olubunmi Aina – VP, Sales & Account Management, Interswitch participated in this session, highlighting the importance of partnerships and shared infrastructure in scaling digital financial services across diverse markets. Fintechs and mobile money operators such as Orange Money, CMB, Vault, and SLCB shared perspectives on platform integration, trust and risk management, and collaborative models. There was also a strong emphasis on scaling impact through agent networks, improving merchant acceptance, and harnessing Sierra Leone’s tech-savvy youth population.
A Platform with Purpose
The Sierra Leone Fintech Forum was more than just another industry gathering. It was a deliberate investment in the growth of the ecosystem. Through the event, Interswitch reinforced its belief that the future of finance in Africa will not be built in isolation, but in alignment with all key stakeholders within and outside of the payment ecosystem. It was a platform dedicated to enabling systems that are both inclusive and resilient, supporting long-term development through accessible, innovative financial solutions.
As Sierra Leone continues to expand mobile connectivity and accelerate its digital transformation agenda, the forum proved a timely catalyst, challenging stakeholders to act boldly, think inclusively, and build systems that deliver real impact. The message was clear and consistent: sustainable progress demands more than innovation. It requires collaboration.
Events such as the Interswitch Fintech Forum are crucial not only for sparking innovative ideas to propel the ecosystem forward but also for facilitating the implementation of these ideas in ways that create real value for individuals, businesses, and the wider African economy. While the journey is still in its early stages, the momentum gained is unmistakable.
