By Amara Thoronka
Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, the Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB)has challenged Sierra Leoneans to join President Julius Maada Bio in developing the country, encouraging citizens to celebrate one another as it bears no positive results when we pull down one another.
“Let’s celebrate one other. Let’s stop the pulling down one another. When you travel overseas, immigration officers there only see you as a Sierra Leonean; they don’t ask for your tribe or political party. When we destroy our image on social media, that is the image the world will see and know about us and that is how they will treat us.
His Excellency the President cannot do it alone. All of us should support him in developing this nation. He is the leader, but we should be determined to push forward development initiatives he has articulated. We do great things for our families. Let’s do those same great things for our communities and country. We have a role as citizens of this country to make our nation better, cleaner, healthier and to be seen globally as serious people that are forward-looking and creative,” he said.
The RC Bank’s boss jokingly but truthfully noted that, prior to our births, none of us had a choice to choose the country we should be given birth to, and as such, all Sierra Leoneans should work toward the development and wellbeing of the country. He cited Rwanda that was known as a protracted conflict zone, but has now been transformed positively by Rwandese.
Dr. Gilpin was speaking to journalists on Friday, 9th February, 2024, at the RCB’s Clock Tower branch in Freetown on him being recently recognized as African Banker of the Year 2023 by Global Reputation Forum and also to inform journalists and their customers of the vision of the bank in 2024. The press conference was also a notification of the bank’s forthcoming symposium on cybersecurity and financial inclusion to be held on 22nd February, 2024.
He said Rokel Commercial Bank is owned, run and managed by Sierra Leoneans who design and disseminate ‘high quality concepts and products.’
The multiple-award winning banker said he wants to use banking to change the negative perceptions of people about Sierra Leone.
“People see Sierra Leone from a perspective of difficulty. I want to change that perception so that the world will see Sierra Leone as a destination with excellent financial services. They can come here with their international banking cards and access their monies through the ATM machines (automated teller machines) and find financial products and services just like what they have in Europe, America, Australia, Caribbean pacific and elsewhere. I believe that we are able and capable to do that.
He said RCB has a long history of integrity and quality products and services, adding that the bank puts Sierra Leone first.
“We prioritize the development and well-being of Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans. We want the whole world to know that during our tenure we did some good for Sierra Leone. We have a collateral and that is ingenuity, excellence, forward-looking steps. We want to assure everyone that, if you invest in this bank, you will always have your money back because we are a strong bank,” he explained.
On his recent award as African Banker of the Year, Dr. Gilpin said the said international meritorious recognition has challenged him to do more and make RC Bank more financially sustainable with continued transformative initiatives.
He added that the bank is on robust digital transformation, saying that digitalization is the current phenomenon in every sector.
“We have taken the bold step to go digital. We recognize that, to be digital means you have the potential to be vulnerable to hackers, so we are conscious of cyber security,” he said.
He used the occasion to notify the press and the public that the bank has a symposium on cyber security and financial inclusion on 22nd February, 2024 where they would display to Sierra Leoneans what they intend to do in leading financial digital transformation in the country. Dr. Gilpin further disclosed that the symposium will be held in partnership with a UK-based firm that specializes in cyber security.
He emphasized that the symposium will bring together top experts to discuss issues relating to cyber security, impact of cyber security on products and services, customer data protection, financial inclusion, risks and compliance management, among others.
“As we move towards a cashless system, we want to automate the banking sector. We are going to bring together people from government agencies, educational institutions, the banking and financial sector and international experts on cyber security and related issues,” the RCB’s chief disclosed.
He said the forthcomingcybersecurity and financial inclusion symposium is aimed at realizing a cashless financial system in the country as “the more we get cashless, the less the incidents of cash.”
Dr. Gilpin stated that the bank is trying to change the physical bulky cash dynamics in Sierra Leone by introducing products and services that will aid financial transactions or movement of money from one point to another digitally.
He recognized the possibility of hackers who would try to get unpermitted access to their system, but stated that they would do their utmost best to prevent or resist hacking of their system.
He advised people to always keep their passwords to digital financial products and services safe as their accounts can be accessed by someone who has knowledge of their sensitive digital banking details like password.
Still on taking the lead in technological advancement of the banking sector, Dr. Gilpin said they intend exploring artificial intelligence (AI) in digitally improving their products and services.
He noted that, as a bank, they have an unwavering commitment to their corporate social responsibility in assisting humanity and transforming lives, citing philanthropic intervention areas such as environmental protection, gender, education, sports, entertainment and humanitarian programs to the vulnerable in society.
He cited that the bank is now known as a champion of financial literacy and financial inclusion in Sierra Leone and also one that supports communities.
Aruna Dumbuya, head of public relations of RC Bank said the bank is spreading everywhere in Sierra Leone, including areas where other banks deem hard-to-reach.
He said, at Rokel Commercial Bank, they work as a team to steadily achieve their goal.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, February 12th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
