The Chief Minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Jacob Jusu Saffa, has praised the former Managing Director of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Abdulai Fidelis Turay.
Mr. Turay’s death on the 15th August 2021, was described as a big loss to the banking industry.
During the opening of Book of Condolence yesterday at the Bank’s headquarters, Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown, Mr. Saffa narrated his thirty years experience with the late MD from university days to the banking sector and as well as in politics.He said after his appointment as Minister of Finance in 2018, selling off the two commercial banks was part of government agenda, but today the integrity of the bank had been restored on a solid financial foundation.
He said that SLCB could now boast of being the largest financial institution spanning across the country and by 2022, the bank is expected to make over Le140 in profit billion after tax. “Those results could only be achieved by someone with years of successful banking experience backed by the political will. He never allowed political influence to interfere with his job,” he said.
Bank Governor, Prof. Kelfala Kallon, described him as a quiet and consummate banker who worked tirelessly to transform the bank to a profitable entity.
“Sierra Leoneans should be grateful for his innovation and management style. If he had failed, the pressure would have been on the government to sell off the bank for pittance”, he said.
The Deputy Managing Director, SLCB, Bockarie Kalokoh, said that if he could boast of any leadership quality or success in the banking world, it is because of the late man whom he described as a selfless MD.
He said that, under the leadership of Fidelis Turay, th Bank was able to make record a of over Le100 billion profit despite the outbreak of Corona Virus. He hailed reforms such as the electronic teller and other innovations introduced by the MD and promised to emulate them.
Chairman Board of Directors, Dr. J D Rogers, indicated that SLCB is the greatest bank among all the fourteen banks, all thanks to Fidelis Turay.
The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Commercial Banks and other dignitaries expressed their grief over someone they all considered as a great mentor.
