By: J.B. Bundu
Sierra Leonean entrepreneur and fintech innovator David Tamba Abdulai Kpakima, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FLOT, has unveiled FLOT Global Visa Cards and Travel Services, marking a significant expansion of locally developed digital financial services aimed at connecting Sierra Leoneans to the global economy.
The new services were officially launched on Saturday, 12 September 2026, at the Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown, with Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, serving as the keynote guest and officially launching the platform.
The event brought together representatives of government, financial institutions, technology companies, the business community and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the launch, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio congratulated Kpakima and the entire FLOT team for turning their vision into reality, describing the initiative as an important step towards expanding access to modern financial and travel services.
“This milestone represents a practical step forward in expanding access to modern banking online systems, travel, and financial support right here at home, making the journey easier for everyone who does business or travels abroad.”
The First Lady further commended the initiative for creating opportunities and strengthening local capacity, saying she looked forward to seeing the positive impact FLOT would bring to travellers across Sierra Leone.
For Kpakima, however, the launch represents much more than the introduction of a new Visa card. He described it as the beginning of a wider ambition to build financial infrastructure from Sierra Leone that can connect people and businesses across Africa and beyond.
“Today, we have launched our global cards, but the card is only the beginning,” Kpakima said, outlining plans to connect FLOT with banks and mobile-money operators across about 40 African countries and the Eurozone.
FLOT, operated by Open Hubb SL Limited, combines banking connectivity, digital payments, Visa cards and international travel services within a single digital platform.
The company says the platform was developed in collaboration with financial and technology partners, including Visa, Zenith Bank Sierra Leone, Sky Bank Sierra Leone and other partners.
Kpakima said the platform was built and delivered in approximately six months, describing the achievement as a product of collaboration, resilience, and local innovation.
He said FLOT’s broader objective is to make financial services safer, more accessible and more seamless while reducing barriers to cross-border transactions and travel.
In a statement following the launch, Kpakima described FLOT as “a Sierra Leonean story” one centred on resilience, innovation, and the determination to demonstrate that world-class technology can be built in Sierra Leone
The launch therefore places David Kpakima and his team at the centre of an emerging Sierra Leonean fintech story, while the participation of First Lady Fatima Maada Bio underscores the growing national interest in locally developed technology, digital financial inclusion and initiatives capable of connecting Sierra Leone more effectively to the global economy.
