28/08/2025
The Liberia Bankers Association (LBA), in collaboration with the West African Bankers' Association (WABA), jointly hosted a four-day training program for some West African banking institutions in Liberia.
The intensive four-day training, which ran from August 18–21, 2025, at the CBL headquarters in Monrovia, focused on enhancing human resources, administration, and marketing in banking operations within the West African region’s banking sector.
Institutions participated in the training were Sky Bank-Sierra Leone Limited, BSIC Bank-Gambia Limited, and Liberia-based banks such as Bloom Bank, UBA, Ecobank, SIBLL, Access Bank, LBDI, and International Bank.
The training, attended by over 43 participants representing various Liberian and foreign banks, aimed to bolster these banking professionals’ capacities and contribute to the overall growth and stability of the West African region’s financial system.
It was also designed to enhance the capacity and performance of banking professionals by equipping them with practical knowledge, modern tools, and strategic insights in three critical operational areas.
Topics covered included Human Resources Management, emphasizing effective talent acquisition, staff development, performance management, and employee retention strategies tailored to the banking sector; Administrative Excellence, covering efficient administrative structures, compliance, documentation processes, and internal control mechanisms for optimized daily operations.
Marketing in Banking Operations will address customer relationship management, digital marketing strategies, branding, and market positioning to drive growth and competitiveness in the financial industry.
Musa Kamara, advisor to CBL Governor Henry Saamoi’s advisor, praised both institutions for selecting Liberia as the host country. “This training represents a significant investment in the future of Liberia’s banking sector.”
Formally launching the training, Kamara noted that investing in human capital is crucial for the long-term sustainability and growth of any financial institution, with West African banking institutions being no exception.
He added, “By enhancing the skills of these banking professionals, we are not only strengthening individual careers but also contributing to the overall economic development of our region; so, I urge all of you to fully participate in this training.”
Earlier, the president of the Liberia Bankers Association, Olalekan Balogun, thanked his colleagues for collaborating with LBA to ensure the successful holding of the training, emphasizing, “Because the rapid evolution of the financial world demands continuous professional development. Our partnership with WABA is to ensure our bankers receive the highest quality training, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of the modern banking environment and contribute to a more robust and resilient financial sector. This collaboration demonstrates WABA's dedication to fostering a vibrant and well-equipped banking sector across West Africa.”
According to Balogun, the training will addressed the unique challenges facing the West African banking sector, including the need for financial inclusion, the promotion of digital financial services, and the management of risks associated with a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
He added that the program's emphasis on practical application will ensure that participants can immediately translate their newly acquired knowledge into tangible improvements within their respective institutions, urging all participants to take the training seriously through their active participation.
The Secretary General of WABA, Alhagie Jeng, disclosed that the seminar marks a pivotal step forward in their collective efforts to strengthen and transform the banking and financial services sector across the West African region.
Jeng also narrated, “We are here today to focus on three fundamental pillars that underpin the success and sustainability of any modern financial institution, including human resources, administration, and marketing. Today’s banking environment demands more than just technical excellence. It demands that we invest in our people, build efficient administrative structures, and engage meaningfully with the markets we serve. So, let this be a time of learning, collaboration, and reflection. Let us build new connections and share experiences that will shape a stronger, more integrated financial sector across ECOWAS.”
Urging participants to engage fully, ask questions, share their experiences, and collaborate across sectors, the WABA SG asserted, “Let this seminar be a spark that ignites stronger institutional cooperation across West Africa. In closing, I wish to reaffirm WABA’s unwavering commitment to capacity-building, cross-border dialogue, and regional integration. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that the West African banking sector remains strong, agile, and inclusive.”
Meanwhile, the four-day program concluded with a certification ceremony, recognizing the successful completion of the intensive training and marking a significant step forward in the professional development of West African bankers.
The LBA and WABA further expressed their commitment to continue collaborating on similar initiatives in the future, strengthening the capacity and competitiveness of the regional banking sector and fostering regional cooperation across West Africa.
