The Deputy Executive Director of the National Investment Board (NIB), Fatima Mahawa Sandi, has said the rebirth of the Institute of Directors Sierra Leone (IoD-SL) will contribute to developing a new generation of directors committed to integrity, competence, accountability and purposeful leadership.
Sandi made the statement on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Rebirth and Certification Ceremony of IoD-SL held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
She described the rebirth of the Institute as an important moment for Sierra Leone’s national development, noting that economic transformation requires more than capital and must be supported by strong corporate governance.
She highlighted ongoing NIB reforms aimed at improving the business environment, including the Online Business Registration System (OBRS), which is expected to be launched in November 2026, as well as a forthcoming reviewed and consolidated business law.
According to Sandi, achieving these reforms cannot be the responsibility of government alone, stressing the need for stronger partnerships with professional institutions such as IoD-SL.
Representing Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, commended IoD-SL for sustaining the Institute over the years.
He also welcomed the Institute’s new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, describing the partnership as a “win-win for the private sector.”
Minister Sesay stressed the need for the 2019 National Corporate Governance Code to move beyond policy and become standard practice across institutions and businesses. He further encouraged IoD-SL to serve as a bridge between government and the private sector.
The Interim President of IoD-SL, Mrs. Amy E. Greene, said the ceremony marked a renewal of the Institute and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening leadership, professionalism and good governance.
She noted that public and private institutions are increasingly expected to operate with greater accountability and pledged to expand IoD-SL’s engagement beyond Sierra Leone through partnerships with fellow institutes of directors and the African Corporate Governance Network (ACGN).
Delivering the keynote address, Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ibrahim Stevens, described good corporate governance as central to sustainable economic progress.
He warned that global economic shocks could threaten recent stability and urged boards to anticipate and manage risks associated with inflation, exchange rates and interest rates.
Dr. Stevens noted that even businesses with sound fundamentals can be undermined by weak oversight, stressing the importance of effective and responsible boards.
He also highlighted the role of IoD-SL in continuous professional development and urged newly certified directors to place stewardship, independent challenge, oversight, ethical leadership and accountability at the centre of their responsibilities.
He called on the renewed Institute to establish higher governance standards, with competence matched by integrity and authority matched by accountability.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Rebirth and Certification Committee, Mr. Kobi Walker, encouraged participants to leave the ceremony with renewed commitment, stronger collaboration and a determination to build an Institute worthy of the confidence placed in it.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to 15 graduates who completed training in Corporate Governance.
