His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, on Tuesday 2nd June 2026, received a high-level delegation from First Bank Group at State House in Freetown for discussions focused on mobilising large-scale financing for Sierra Leone’s infrastructure and industrial development priorities.
The delegation, which was led by the Group Chief Executive Officer of First Bank, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu included senior engineering executives and international directors of the bank. They were received alongside Sierra Leone’s First Bank Country CEO, Board Chair, Mr. Sheku Ahmed Fantamandi Bangura, who is the Minister of Finance.
Discussions centred on innovative financing mechanisms aimed at accelerating investment in key sectors, particularly roads, electricity, water supply, bridges, and industrial infrastructure. During the engagement, the Minister of Finance emphasised the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to moving beyond tradition and models by embracing blended financing approaches that combine public resources, private capital, and concessional funding.
He averred that Sierra Leone’s mineral wealth and agricultural potential provide a strong foundation for structuring sustainable financing agreements capable of supporting long-term national development goals.
“Our priority is to ensure that technical engagements move swiftly toward concrete financing structures and implementable agreements that can unlock critical infrastructure investments,” Mr. Bangura said.
The First Bank Group CEO, Olusegun Alebiosu, highlighted the bank’s long-standing experience in infrastructure financing across Africa, stressing that strategic investment in roads, electricity, water systems, and industrial facilities is essential for stimulating economic growth and expanding national productivity. Mr. Alebiosu described blended financing is one of the most effective instruments for mobilising large-scale capital for transformative development projects.
He further explained that the bank possesses the capacity to structure financing arrangements using future commodity revenues and mineral royalties as collateral, enabling governments to accelerate development interventions without waiting for traditional budgetary cycles.
The CEO assured the GoSL that the bank’s engagement would be guided by transparency, strong local coordination, and sound financial governance.
President Bio welcomed the discussions and linked the proposed financing frameworks directly to his Government’s “Big Five” development priorities: agriculture, fisheries, mining, tourism, and manufacturing.
The President underscored that inadequate infrastructure remains one of the greatest constraints to economic growth and private sector expansion in Sierra Leone.
He, therefore, directed that concrete project pipelines and financing structures be developed without delay and assured the delegation of Government’s full cooperation in creating an enabling environment for successful implementation.
The Government of Sierra Leone views the engagement as a significant step toward mobilising the investment required to unlock the country’s long-term development potential.
Founded in 1894, First Bank operates across six African countries, with its head office in the United Kingdom.
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