By: Saidu Jalloh
National Investment Board (NIB) has reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations with Nigeria during the official opening of the Nigeria-Sierra Leone Trade Fair 2026 at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown.
The two-week trade fair, which runs from July 27 to August 9, has brought together investors, exhibitors, policymakers, development partners and private sector leaders from both countries to showcase products and services, promote investment opportunities and facilitate business partnerships.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of the NIB, the Director of Investment and Export Promotion, Sheku Lexmond Koroma, described the trade fair as a significant milestone in deepening economic cooperation between Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
Koroma said the event aligns with the Government’s commitment to building a resilient, diversified and private sector-led economy. He noted that the NIB remains Sierra Leone’s lead institution for investment promotion, investment facilitation, export promotion and private sector development.
He added that the trade fair provides businesses with an opportunity to connect with investors, access new markets and establish long-term commercial partnerships. He encouraged exhibitors and potential investors to visit the NIB exhibition booth to learn about Sierra Leone’s investment incentives, priority sectors and the services available through the Board’s One-Stop Investment Centre.
Koroma also underscored the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a transformative framework for expanding intra-African trade, strengthening regional value chains and unlocking new investment opportunities across the continent.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to creating a competitive business environment that promotes trade, industrialization and private sector growth.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Sierra Leone, Agbai Abosi, said the trade fair would further strengthen commercial relations between Sierra Leone and Nigeria while creating new opportunities for businesses to access regional markets.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, H.E. Ayu Luther-Ogbemode, commended the longstanding diplomatic and economic relationship between the two countries. He said stronger trade and investment cooperation would generate mutual economic benefits, stimulate business growth and advance regional integration.
Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Remigius Okafor, expressed confidence that the maiden trade fair would stimulate increased trade, investment and business collaboration between the two nations.
The Executive Secretary of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Samuel Joe Yilla, pledged the Chamber’s continued collaboration with its Nigerian counterparts to expand trade opportunities and strengthen private sector partnerships.
The event officially commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony jointly performed by the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Nigerian High Commissioner. The ceremony was followed by a tour of the exhibition booths, where dignitaries interacted with exhibitors and explored the wide range of products and services on display.
Organizers said the Nigeria–Sierra Leone Trade Fair 2026 is expected to boost bilateral trade, attract investment, facilitate technology transfer and strengthen business-to-business partnerships, further enhancing economic cooperation between Sierra Leone and Nigeria.