In a strong show of its commitment to advancing Pan-African digital finance, Interswitch partnered with the Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL) to host the second edition of the Sierra Leone Fintech Forum, drawing key stakeholders across the financial ecosystem to chart a course toward broader access, inclusion, and growth of digital payments in the country.
The forum, which took place at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, convened senior representatives from government, regulators, commercial banks, fintechs, telecoms, mobile money operators, and development partners for high-level conversations around deepening digital financial services in Sierra Leone and beyond.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, this year’s forum themed “Access, Inclusion and Growth – Deepening Digital Payments in Sierra Leone”, reflected a shared commitment to fostering more inclusive and resilient financial systems through collaboration, innovation, and scalable infrastructure that also resonate with Nigeria’s evolving financial ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Building on Progress: Expanding Access, Driving Inclusion, and Fueling Growth for National Prosperity,” Akeem Lawal, Managing Director, Payment Processing and Switching (Interswitch Purepay), emphasised Interswitch’s broader vision for digital transformation across African markets, including Nigeria.
“Financial inclusion goes beyond launching more apps or issuing more cards. It’s about solving real problems with solutions that are scalable, secure, and grounded in local realities. By applying lessons from multiple African markets and tailoring them to local needs, Interswitch is committed to supporting Sierra Leone, and indeed Africa’s digital transformation journey.”
He also highlighted the importance of driving merchant acceptance, enabling agency networks that reach the underserved, and co-creating policy with regulators, strategies already in motion in Nigeria and now being extended across the region.
Also speaking at the forum, Dr. Ibrahim Stevens, Governor, Bank of Sierra Leone, applauded Interswitch’s continued investment and partnership in the country’s digital transformation journey. He said,
“The Bank of Sierra Leone recognises the critical role of digital financial services in building a more inclusive and resilient economy. Events like the Sierra Leone Fintech Forum, in collaboration with innovators like Interswitch, help accelerate the adoption of technologies that bring more Sierra Leoneans into the formal financial system. We remain committed to creating an enabling regulatory environment that fosters innovation while ensuring consumer protection and financial stability.”
One of the forum’s key highlights was a live demonstration of Interswitch’s Agency Banking solution, designed to bridge the gap between traditional banking infrastructure and remote communities. The platform enables secure, efficient and real-time transactions through a decentralised network of agents, a model already driving inclusion in Nigeria.
The event also featured a series of insightful panel discussions, interactive question and answer sessions, and networking opportunities that facilitated knowledge-sharing across borders.
As mobile penetration deepens and digital infrastructure expands, the Sierra Leone Fintech Forum reinforced the urgent need for collaboration across the continent to unlock meaningful and inclusive growth. Beyond this, the event served as a reminder of Interswitch’s regional leadership in driving scalable innovation, regulatory alignment, and shared infrastructure to power Africa’s digital future.