Mohamed Alhajie Samoura

Mohamed is a seasoned banker with close to two decades of working experience in the Sierra Leonean banking industry. Until his appointment as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Sierra Leone, he was the bank’s Executive Director, Business Development. He is passionate about banking and has a strong drive to create an impact in the business and financial arena. Mohamed has several accolades and was most recently named among the 100 Most Outstanding Executives in Sierra Leone by the Sierra Ovation Awards. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science and a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Mohamed is bringing on board his wealth of experience and understanding of the country’s corporate and institutional banking landscape to further strengthen UBA’s strategic place in the market. He is the currect president of the Sierra Leone Association of Commercial Banks.

Claudius Bart- Williams

Claudius is a Financial Economist by profession with over 30 years experience in education, consulting, corporate advisory and finance in the UK and Africa.

As Group Chief Executive of Pennarth Greene, Claudius leads the London and Africa-based licensed advisory and corporate finance firm, linking capital and opportunities in Europe and in emerging markets, especially in Africa.  The firm maintains a list of associates in many jurisdictions, which gives it extensive reach in meeting the aspirations of its clients.  In the UK, the company is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  Clients include Soros Economic Development Fund (SEDF), World Bank Group, WAICA Reinsurance Corporation PLC, Eye Foundation Hospital Nigeria, Heineken International, Adam Smith International, UK Department for International Development (DFiD), Deutsche Gesellshaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Ernst & Young, Fragomen, Donewell Life Insurance Company (Ghana), Deme Group (Belgium), Platform Capital (Nigeria), Natural Habitat (Holland) and Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC).

Claudius has also worked as a project or technical consultant for a number of international organisations including the World Bank, IFC, DFID and UNCTAD.

From 2005 – 2008, Claudius was Dean of the Business School of the University of Sierra Leone, leading a major institutional change of the institution.

Prior to 2005, Claudius held academic posts in the UK including as Senior Lecturer as well as being external examiner at several universities in the UK, India, Oman, South Africa and Poland.

Claudius retired as Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank (Sierra Leone) Limited, in 2014 but continues to hold several other non-executive directorships including Royal Insurance Gambia Limited (Gambia), and Marcel De Vere (Tax Advisers, Sierra Leone) Limited.

Claudius holds PhD in Financial Economics.

Desmond Gordon-Williams, M.Sc., MCSM

Desmond is a professional engineer in the metallurgical engineering specialty and has over 35 years of diverse experience in process design, operations, engineering consulting and study management, and mining project valuation. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Chemistry from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, is a Master of the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall UK (MCSM) with a M.Sc. in Minerals Engineering, is a member of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers (SLIE), a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), holds a Project Management Certificate from the University of Toronto and has completed the Senior Executive Programme at the London Business School.

Desmond has over 35 years varied experience in the mining and minerals and related industries in several countries including Sierra Leone, Canada, USA and Russia including roles as Consultant Metallurgist, Process Engineering Manager, Senior Project Manager and Project Director, Operations and General Manager.

Desmond has worked successfully in multi-national business environments with cross-cultural diverse teams. He also has with varied experience in strategic business planning and corporate governance including serving on supervisory boards and committees, formulating and implementing strategic objectives and working with government and regulatory authorities in the interpretation of natural resources and other related policies and regulations.

He is currently the Managing Director and Principal consultant at Arema Group Ltd., and a Lecturer at the Mining Engineering Department, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.

Mr Gordon-Williams is also a consultant mining engineer with CEMMATS Group Ltd., a non-executive Director at NP SL Ltd., and a Consultant Senior Project Manager at SNC-Lavalin Inc. in Toronto.

Mrs. Blanche Gooding

Mrs Blanche Gooding successfully completed the examinations of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountant in England and Wales in 1984 and became a Fellow of that Institute in 1989. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sierra Leone and a member of Council.

Mrs Gooding has over thirty-five years of post-qualification experience in professional accounting. She was Managing Partner for a number of years, of King Walker & Associates, the oldest professional accounting & auditing firm in Sierra Leone. She has also worked in executive management positions in a number of renowned organizations including Unicef, KPMG, Marie Stopes Society, a UK registered charity, and the Road Maintenance Fund Administration, a public sector institution set up by an Act of Parliament, to name but a few. She is also the current treasurer of the Well Woman Clinic, an organisation caring for the general wellness of women in Sierra Leone, but specifically towards the early detection of breast cancer.

After her retirement in May, 2018, Mrs. Gooding joined up with colleagues to set up the Rubicon Agricultural production and Processing Limited in July 2019, a company venturing into the brand new area of Agriculture. She serves as the Director of Finance and is a joint shareholder in the company.

Mrs. Gooding currently serves as non-executive director on the Board of various locally registered organisations.

As a non-executive Director of United Bank for Africa since March 2019, she brings in a wealth of experience to the Bank.

She is married with three children and two grandchildren.

Mr. Sidi Alieu Bakarr

A professional Engineer having a combined 38 years of experience in the Energy, Plant Engineering, and Petroleum Industries with a sound knowledge of energy development, business and engineering. Also a Fellow of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers (FSLIE).

Presently Chairman of the Board, Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), Lecturer at Faculty of Engineering, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Board Director at Leone Oil Company and Director, Engineering and Business Development at CEMMATS Group S.L Ltd.

Holds a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering and an M Phil in Energy. Presently pursuing a Ph D in Energy.

Feyi Ogoji

Feyi Ogoji holds a B.Sc degree in Accounting (Second Class Upper Division)  and an MBA degree, both from University of Lagos. He is Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants on Nigeria (ICAN), with about three decades of post professional qualification experience in professional accounting practice and Banking. Before he retired in 2018 after about 3 decades in Banking, his last 21 years  in was in UBA/the then Standard Trust Bank Plc where his experience spanned Business Development and Relationship Management, Customer Service, Operations and Technology, Internal Control and Reconciliation.   He functioned in various senior management capacities such as  Group Chief Operating Officer,  Director, Group Consumer Banking, Regional Bank CEO, Mid West, pioneer Regional Director, West –post UBA/STB merger, Head, Operations and Process Integration Committee of the historic UBA/STB Merger. As a pioneer turnaround staff member of the then  Standard Trust Bank Plc in 1997, he variously functioned as Divisional Director, Operations, Divisional Director, Customer Service, Head, Internal Control and Reconciliation. 

He has attended several local and international courses in prestigious institutions, including  Harvard Business School, Oxford University Business School, Manchester Business School, and Lagos Business School among others.

Feyi is a tested process engineering , turn around/business transformation leader, he has been actively involved in the training and mentoring programmes all through his 30 years of Banking and Professional Accounting experience.  

Mohamed Alhajie Samoura

Mohamed is a seasoned banker with close to two decades of working experience in the Sierra Leonean banking industry. Until his appointment as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Sierra Leone, he was the bank’s Executive Director, Business Development. He is passionate about banking and has a strong drive to create an impact in the business and financial arena. Mohamed has several accolades and was most recently named among the 100 Most Outstanding Executives in Sierra Leone by the Sierra Ovation Awards. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science and a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Mohamed is bringing on board his wealth of experience and understanding of the country’s corporate and institutional banking landscape to further strengthen UBA’s strategic place in the market. He is the currect president of the Sierra Leone Association of Commercial Banks.

Juliana Asare

Juliana is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana and Sierra Leone. She is
also a certified Treasury Operations dealer (ACI). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Ghana and an MBA (Finance Option) from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. She also has Certification in Green and Sustainable Finance. Juliana has over eighteen years of banking experience spanning across Financial and Regulatory Reporting, Strategy and Performance Management Budgeting, Treasury and Banking Operations. She served as a representative of the Sierra Leone Association of Commercial Banks (SLACB) to the Accounting and Realignment Technical Committee of Bank of Sierra Leone on
the redenomination exercise which occurred in 2022. She is also the President to the Accounting and Finance Standing Committee of the SLACB. She is a holder of the Top 100 Professionals Awards (2022-2024) in recognition of outstanding commitment to professional growth and development of Sierra Leone an award by  Ovation Awards. She is also a holder of Top 100 Women in Corporate Sierra Leone Award. Prior to joining UBA Sierra Leone, Juliana worked with UBAGhana.

Christiana Sao-Lamina

Christiana Sao Lamina is a seasoned banker with over 16 years of experience in the financial sector. She joined the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone in 2019 as Branch and Business Manager and has since advanced within the organization. In 2023, she was appointed Country Head for Customer Experience, and in July 2024, she became the Head of Retail Banking at UBA Sierra Leone. Prior to her tenure at UBA, Christiana worked as a Branch and Business Manager at Keystone Bank from 2017 to 2018. She began her career in 2009, holding various roles, including Customer Service Officer, Clearing Officer, Support, Treasury and Domestic Operations, Cash Officer and Relationship Manager . She also gained three years experience in the insurance sector at RITCORP and completed her internship at NASSIT.Christiana holds a master’s degree in Business Administration (Marketing) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Procurement) from the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM). Additionally, she holds a Diploma in Insurance.

Joy Joseph

Joy Joseph is a seasoned banker with over 20 years wealth of experience and currently the head of internal control UBA Sierra Leone having served in different capacities in the Bank. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the university of Benin, Nigeria. An associate of the chartered institute of finance and control of Nigeria and a member of the chartered institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

Emmanuel Adeloye

Emmanuel Adeloye is a seasoned banking executive with over two decades of progressive experience at United Bank for Africa (UBA). He began his career with UBA on 29th September, 2000, starting in Domestic Operations. In 2004, he transitioned to the Audit Department as a team member in Head Office Audit. Following the bank’s merger, he joined the Business Office Audit team, where he advanced to the position of Team Lead. Demonstrating strong leadership and expertise in audit and risk management, Emmanuel was appointed Head of Audit for the South West region in 2019. In March 2024, he was promoted to the role of Country Chief Inspector, where he oversees audit and compliance functions at the national level. Emmanuel is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sierra Leone. He holds a Master of Science degree in Management Science and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting (Second Class Upper Division).

Millicent Yormah

Millicent Y. Yormah is a consummate banker with over a decade of working experience in the Sierra Leone banking industry. And currently, she is the Country Head Resources for the United Bank For Africa (SL) Ltd. Prior to her current appointment, she was the Head of Customer Services at Zenith Bank (SL) Ltd. where she started her banking career and later moved to Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Ltd as the Head, Human Resources. She was also the Head, Human Capital Management & Development for FBNBank (SL) Ltd. Until her current appointment with UBA (SL) Ltd. Millicent holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. She also holds a post-graduate Diploma in Human Resources from the University of Sierra Leone.

Ngene Chiedu

Ngene Chiedu is the current Chief Operating Officer of the bank. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Physics and MBA in Banking & Finance . He has over 20 years cognate experience in banking spanning across several units. Before his current position, he has served as Chief Operating Officer of Rivers and Delta regions in Nigeria. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of finance and control of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Strategic Managers and Leaders.

Deinma Iyagba

Emmanuel Komba

Emmanuel Aiah Komba has over Eight (8) years experience in Credit & Risk management. He is a graduate from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone with a Bsc. in Economics and a Masters of Arts Degree in Economic Policy Management from the University of Ghana Legon.

Mohamed Sillah

Mohamed Sillah is an accomplished IT leader with over 14 years of banking experience, combining technical expertise with strong operational and leadership capabilities. He currently serves as the Head of Information Technology, United Bank for Africa SL Limited. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems, a Postgraduate diploma in Procurement, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Sierra Leone. This unique blend of academic credentials enables him to bridge the gap between technology, business operations, and strategic sourcing, aligning IT initiatives with the bank’s overall goals. He is a member of the Sierra Leone Information Technology Association (SLICTA). Throughout his banking career, Mohamed Sillah has held various roles in operations and technology support, gaining valuable insights into core banking systems, service delivery, and infrastructure optimization. He has a proven track record of managing cross-functional IT teams, driving digital transformation, enhancing system uptime, and ensuring regulatory compliance and cybersecurity resilience.

Sallieu Sesay

Sallieu Sesay is a seasoned media practitioner with over seven years of experience. He is a senior member of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and a member of the Sierra Leone Public Relations Executives set up by the African Consulting Group. He has worked for both local and international non-governmental organisations in the capacity of communications and public relations expert.

Nathaniel Swaray

Nathaniel Sahr Swaray is a seasoned professional with over ten years of diverse working experience, including six years serving as Head of Corporate Services equivalent to Head of Administration in the banking industry, complemented by four years of experience in other sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Applied Accounting from the Institute of Public Administration and Management at the University of Sierra Leone. Born on January 1, 1988, Nathaniel combines strong academic credentials with extensive leadership experience in corporate services management within financial institutions.

Yusif Sesay

Yusuf Ahmed Sesay is a seasoned banking professional with over 14 years of experience spanning Treasury Operations and Corporate Banking. He is a results-driven leader with a proven track record in financial management, corporate client relations, and strategic business growth. Currently serving as the Head of Corporate Banking, Yusuf brings a strong analytical mindset, deep financial market insight, and sharp risk management skills to the table. His unique dual expertise in treasury and corporate banking positions him as a versatile executive, capable of driving profitability while ensuring operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. Yusuf is
a Chartered Banker, certified by the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Nigeria). He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. Additionally, his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting & Finance (Honors) equips him with strong capabilities in financial analysis, reporting, and strategic decision-making, making him a valuable asset in aligning banking solutions with client needs and institutional goals.