By Abubakar Hashim
The crop of professional Sierra Leonean bankers with promising future in the banking industry is fast growing.
Few months ago, at the United Bank for Africa UBA SL, a young Sierra Leonean, Alhaji Samoura, became the bank’s first indigenous MD, taking over from a Nigerian, Osman, who was posted to New York.
At First Bank in Sierra Leone, a young and dynamic Sierra Leonean, Jonathan Bangura, who, currently heads the Treaury Department, is likely to become the first Sierra Leonean MD of the bank, in view of his sterling qualities and track record at the bank.
At the moment, he represents the MD, a Nigerian, at major official assignments.
For instance, he is representing the bank at the ongoing Central Bank of Sierra Leone 60th Anniversary and also the ongoing West Africa Bankers Association (WABA) executive meeting as a member, representing First Bank.
Jonathan, by all indications, is best suited to become the first Sierra Leonean CEO of First Bank, similar to UBA, where the current Sierra Leonean MD, is waxing stronger with impressive performance in profits before and after tax for the bank.
He joined First Bank SL in October 2018 as Head of Treasury and Foreign Banking till date.
He came from Standard Chartered SL where he held various positions in the Treasury Department as:
– Corporate Sales Dealer
– FX Trader
– Head of Wealth Management Products Sales
He is a Certified Dealer, holding an international dealing certificate, the ACI. A respected requirement for dealers worldwide.
This trend of Sierra Leoneans occupying CEO positions of banks originated from Nigeria and it is a healthy development which promotes the warm and cordial relations between the two countries.
*Abubakar Hashim is the West Africa Bureau Chief based in Sierra Leone