By Saio Marrah
The Managing Director of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Yusuf Silla, has urged staff of the bank to work harder and maintain the legacy of the past dedicated workers of the bank.
Silla said this at the launch of the “Hall of Fame” in honouring the hard work of the past and current staff of the bank, an event that was held at SLCB’s headquarters in Freetown, Saturday 21st January, 2023.
The celebration of the government owned bank’s 50th anniversary of non-stop service to the nation was climaxed with the unveiling of portraits of the 20 pioneering staff of the bank.
Past Managing Directors and other pioneering staff, some of whom had served the bank for over 40 years were among the photos that decorated the walls of the bank.
After recognizing the past staff for their long dedicated service to the bank, Silla called on the current staff to “rekindle” their commitment in order to keep the legacy of the institution as the pinnacle of banking in the country.
Thus, dedication anddiscipline are among the other attributes he said are the only way through which they can keep the bank for a centenary celebration.
Among the seven pioneering staff still alive, was Agathia O. Sealy who said she was in steering committee appointed to formulate details and policies related to the establishment of the bank, and took minutes of meetings.
According to her, on the 1st February 1973, 20 of them were selected by the Bank of Sierra Leone to work for SLCB. She said there was little or no division of labour and even managerial staff could be seen physically arranging offices.
Sealy also noted that they started work at 7:30 in the morning till the early hours of the following day.
“I can vividly recall that on the 31st December 1973 we had to leave the bank briefly to attend the watchnight service at the St George’s Cathedral Church,” she said.
She also pointed out that at a cocktail held at the Paramount Hotel in Freetown, each of the 20 pioneering staff received a gold medallion for ten years of dedication and loyal service to the bank after its inception.
The Deputy Managing Director of the bank, Festus Sowa thanked the pioneering staff for their service, without which the bank would not have existed and promised that their legacy will live on.
The celebrated pioneering staff of the bank include Alhaji Sana B. Marah, as Senior Manager/ first corporate secretary, Victor Francis Jamina, as Chief Manager/ Deputy Managing Director, Simeon James Babatunde Anthony as first Deputy Managing Director, and Christian J. Smith as Managing Director.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (26/01/23)
