Sierra Leone is expected to host Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Nigerian banking and investment mogul Tony Elumelu, and up to seven Heads of State at the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS), scheduled for 16–18 November 2026 at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi.
The three-day summit is expected to bring together prominent African business leaders, regional heads of government and international financiers to connect investment-ready projects across West Africa with potential investors.
Special Envoy Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella disclosed the expected participation of the business leaders and Heads of State on Wednesday during the launch of the summit’s local media campaign in Aberdeen, Freetown.
He said WAIIS had established a high-level Private Sector Advisory Board comprising Dangote, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Elumelu, Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Holdings, and other leading business figures from across the continent.
According to Yumkella, five to seven Heads of State are expected to attend the summit, which is designed to facilitate direct engagement between project developers and financiers.
“This is not a pledging conference. It is an investment conference where projects are ready and bankers are ready to invest,” Yumkella said.
He explained that the summit aligns with President Julius Maada Bio’s drive to strengthen regional economic integration, building on his tenure as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The initiative seeks to promote closer economic cooperation through increased regional trade, investment and infrastructure development.
Several Sierra Leonean projects have already been included in WAIIS Deal Rooms, a platform intended to connect investment-ready ventures with potential financiers. Among them are the Gento Group’s proposed port project at Kent and Banana Island, as well as the Nant Energy Project at Kissy, which officials say could significantly increase the country’s electricity generation capacity.
Minister of Planning Kenyeh Barlay said the Deal Rooms would provide Sierra Leonean projects with direct access to investors, potentially creating opportunities to mobilise financing for major development initiatives.
Minister of Communication Salima Bah also disclosed that some projects had already attracted serious interest from potential investors ahead of the summit.
Meanwhile, President of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce Robin Coker said the event could provide a significant boost to Sierra Leone’s economy and strengthen investment prospects across the wider West African region.
WAIIS Chief Operating Officer Joseph Ngana assured stakeholders that preparations were underway to ensure the summit runs smoothly, expressing confidence that a successful event would encourage investors to return to Sierra Leone for further business opportunities.
The summit is expected to position Freetown as a meeting point for regional investment discussions, with organisers seeking to translate business engagements into financing opportunities for projects across West Africa.