By Nafisatu Olayinka Deen
Freetown, 2nd September, 2026 – Sierra Leone’s global diaspora community will take centre stage at the inaugural Sierra Leone Diaspora Week 2026, a nine-day event aimed at strengthening investment, trade, policy engagement and cultural ties between the country and its citizens abroad.
The event, organised by the Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference (SLDIC) in partnership with Make Sierra Leone Famous, is scheduled to run from December 28, 2026, to January 5, 2027, at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown.
Announcing the initiative, SLDIC Founder and Chairperson, Vickie Remoe, said the programme seeks to position Sierra Leoneans living abroad as key partners in national development, giving them the same strategic attention often reserved for foreign investors.
She noted that the week-long engagement will provide a coordinated platform to encourage structured investment, expand trade opportunities, strengthen policy advocacy and foster meaningful reconnection with the homeland.
According to Remoe, discussions will focus on mobilising diaspora capital, reducing investment risks, improving access to local financing and exploring opportunities in critical sectors such as agriculture, technology, mining and other growth industries.
The programme will feature keynote addresses from industry experts and investors, panel discussions on building confidence in home-grown investments, a local business exhibition and a dedicated investment showroom designed to connect vetted businesses with diaspora investors.
“Sierra Leone Diaspora Week is our promise to returning citizens: come home, and you will find open doors to real opportunities. Doors into boardrooms, farms, factories and the growing industries shaping our country’s future. We want every returning Sierra Leonean to leave with a clear path forward and a country they can help build,” Remoe said.
Beyond the conference sessions, participants will also take part in a series of networking and recreational activities. These include the Diaspora Wars Beach Sports Day and Midnight Bonfire at Campenero Resort, Bureh Beach, on December 30, the Diaspora Investment Bootcamp facilitated by ARK on January 4, and a Trade, Agribusiness and Eco-Tourism Tour of local and diaspora-owned farms on January 5, 2027.
The organisers have announced Brussels Airlines as the official airline partner, offering discounted travel packages for participants departing from Europe. The event is also being supported by Sierra Leone Commercial Bank and TAF Africa Global.
Remoe said the organising team remains open to partnerships and encouraged interested individuals and organisations to visit www.makesierraleonefamous.com for additional information and registration details.
The initiative is expected to provide a platform for Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to explore investment opportunities, build business connections and contribute more directly to the country’s economic development.
