Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (De Monk)
Mohamed Alhajie Samoura has spoken publicly about his departure as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone, describing his nearly six years with the bank as the most significant chapter of his banking career.
Samoura’s departure took effect on September 30, 2026, following the acceptance of his resignation by the UBA Sierra Leone Board.
In a statement issued on his final day in office and published first by Ticha Lemp Lemp, Samoura said he was leaving UBA to pursue “other endeavours”, while expressing gratitude to the bank, its staff, customers, regulators and other stakeholders.
“Leading UBA Sierra Leone has been the honour of my career,” Samoura said, describing the bank as more than a workplace but a platform for “growth, innovation, service and meaningful impact.”
His departure brings to an end a period in which he became the first Sierra Leonean to lead UBA’s operations in the country since the bank commenced business in Sierra Leone in 2008.
The Bank of Sierra Leone approved his substantive appointment as MD/CEO in January 2024, following his nomination by the UBA Group Office and the UBA Sierra Leone Board in December 2023. Before becoming substantive MD, he had served as Acting MD/CEO and Executive Director, Business Development.
In his departure statement, Samoura highlighted a number of financial and institutional milestones recorded during his tenure.
He cited a record Profit Before Tax of NLe988.9 million in FY2025, representing an 18.6 per cent year-on-year increase, alongside more than 70,000 new customer accounts.
He also pointed to a 71 per cent increase in Profit Before Tax in FY2024, with total assets reaching NLe5.2 billion, as well as the growth of UBA Sierra Leone’s customer base to more than one million.
Other milestones he identified included UBA Sierra Leone’s recognition as Bank of the Year 2023 by The Banker, a Financial Times publication, and the development of a new state-of-the-art branch in Kono, which he said was scheduled to open before the end of 2026.
Samoura himself was recognised as Best Corporate Leader of the Year at the 10th African Ovation Awards in April 2026, an award also reported by UBA Sierra Leone.
Beyond financial performance, Samoura placed particular emphasis on the development of Sierra Leonean talent during his tenure.
“One of the most meaningful aspects of my tenure was helping to inspire young Sierra Leoneans to pursue leadership and excellence in banking,” he said.
According to Samoura, more young Sierra Leoneans advanced to executive positions at UBA Sierra Leone during his leadership than at any previous point in the bank’s history, contributing to what he described as one of the youngest executive leadership teams in Sierra Leone’s banking industry.
He attributed the bank’s progress to the collective efforts of the UBA Sierra Leone Board, Executive Committee and staff.
Samoura also acknowledged the support of UBA Group leadership, the Bank of Sierra Leone, customers, shareholders, partners and other stakeholders throughout his tenure.
As UBA’s sixth MD/CEO in Sierra Leone, he said he had worked with the Executive Director to support an orderly handover pending the Board’s appointment of a substantive successor.
“I am confident that the Bank remains in capable hands and will continue to advance financial inclusion, enterprise development, customer service and the growth of Sierra Leone’s financial-services sector,” he said.
UBA had announced on September 25 that Samoura’s resignation would take effect on September 30. The bank said its Board had accepted the resignation and thanked him for his service. It did not publicly state a reason for his departure.
Samoura ended his statement by thanking his wife and family, customers, colleagues, friends and well-wishers for their support and messages as he begins what he described as his “next chapter”.
He said he would remain a proud ambassador of the UBA brand and carry forward the lessons, relationships and friendships built during his years with the institution.
“Thank you, Sierra Leone. Thank you to our customers and to every member of the UBA family,” he said. “I wish UBA Sierra Leone continued growth, progress and success. The best is yet to come.”
His departure comes after almost two decades in Sierra Leone’s banking industry. UBA’s own profile describes him as a banker with close to two decades of experience in the sector.
