UBA Sierra Leone Partners with Government for Regional AFCFTA Conference

UBA Sierra Leone proudly partnered with the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, at the Sierra Leone Regional AFCFTA Conference held from 14th – 17th October 2025 at the Foreign Service Academy, Tower Hill, Freetown.

Themed “From Policy to Practice: Accelerating Sierra Leone’s AFCFTA Implementation for Sustainable Economic Transformation,” the conference brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to deliberate on strategies for deepening regional trade integration and fostering inclusive economic growth.

On Wednesday, 15th October, UBA Sierra Leone took an active role in the discussions, with Ms. Nkem Osakwe, Head of Transactional Banking, serving as one of the distinguished panelists during the session titled “Unlocking Trade Finance and Payment Integration: Strengthening Sierra Leone’s Financial Sector through AFCFTA and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).”

In her remarks, Ms. Osakwe underscored the importance of adopting PAPSS across both private and government institutions, describing it as a “game changer” in facilitating seamless intra-African trade. She also encouraged Sierra Leoneans—and Africans at large—to embrace the use of local currencies, emphasizing that collective commitment to this shift is vital for realizing the full benefits of PAPSS and the broader AFCFTA agenda.

Her insightful contributions and practical recommendations were warmly received, earning commendations from participants and highlighting UBA Sierra Leone’s leadership and commitment to driving Africa’s economic integration through innovative financial solutions.

UBA Sierra Leone remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that promote sustainable trade, financial inclusion, and economic transformation under the AFCFTA framework, in alignment with the broader vision of the UBA Group.