The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with UN Women, hosted a transformative Technical Workshop on finance access as part of the Women in Tourism Regional Congress, held from 29-31 October at the Freetown International Conference Centre. Themed "Beyond Empowerment to Education, Innovation, and Financial Access," the congress focused on empowering women in the tourism sector through enhanced financial literacy, access to capital, and sustainable financial practices.
Organised with MasterCard Africa's support and moderated by Invest Salone, the workshop gathered hundreds of participants from Sierra Leone and across Africa, including women entrepreneurs, tourism industry leaders, government officials, and representatives from NGOs and financial institutions. This event fostered a dynamic environment for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration, creating opportunities for women to advance in the tourism sector.
The workshop featured panel discussions on essential topics such as financial literacy, business planning, microfinance, and strategic financial management. Mr Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, Team Lead at Invest Salone, moderated the workshop and outlined the agenda and expected outcomes for empowering women-led businesses toward sustainable growth.
Distinguished panellists included:
Ms. Mary Jalloh, Project Coordinator, Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project
Mr. Rony Michael, Mercy International
Ms. Abibatu Turay, Manager, Bank of Sierra Leone
Ms Tania Fraser, Gender and Social Inclusion, Sierra Leone
Ms. Bablinda Bami-Caulker, Executive Director, First Bank, Sierra Leone
Ms. Druscilla Coker, Head of Local Corporates & SMEs, Ecobank, Sierra Leone
Ms. Joy Eshiague, Head of Client Relations and Marketing, LAPO Microfinance Company, Sierra Leone
Ms. Avril Pratt, Invest Salone
Key discussion areas included:
Unpacking the Financial Ecosystem – Exploring the unique challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs alongside insights into policies supporting women’s financial inclusion.
Accessing Microfinance and Business Loans – Panelists discussed funding sources, opportunities for women-led businesses, and strategies for obtaining financial support from local institutions.
Market and Investment Readiness – Focused on tools, strategies, and roadmaps to help women become market-ready and grow their businesses.
Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Nabeela Farida Tunis, expressed pride in the workshop's participants and encouraged them to recognise their potential within Sierra Leone's tourism industry. She reiterated her ministry's commitment to the Tourism for All campaign, which promotes domestic tourism and showcases Sierra Leone's rich culture. Minister Tunis highlighted the 100 scholarships provided by UN Tourism, prioritising women in the sector, and invited attendees to participate in the upcoming Women in Tourism Regional Congress Open Air Carnival on 31st October at the Ggibonta car park
Joel F. Dumbuya
SLENA Correspondent
088296929 or 075211750
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