UNITED FOR PRINCIPAL

PI-CREF’s Chairman Yumkella Leads Sierra Leone Delegation to Nigeria

_Holds High-Level Consultations as Special Envoy to advance discussions on the upcoming Regional Integration and Investment Summit in West Africa_

Abuja, Nigeria, 30 January 2026:- Hon. Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, has concluded a high-level shuttle diplomatic mission to the Federal Republic of Nigeria following his appointment by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio as Special Envoy for the upcoming ECOWAS Integration and Investment Summit.

Marking the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS, the summit aims to revitalize the region's economic agenda by facilitating bankable investments and promoting regional value chains across four strategic pillars - Energy Trade, Strategic Minerals, Agribusiness, and Digital Transformation. This high-profile event will convene Heads of State, ministers, private sector leaders, development finance institutions, and other regional organizations.

Nigeria marks Yumkella’s first diplomatic stop as part of a first round of consultations and preparatory engagements across the ECOWAS region. These engagements are aimed at redefining West Africa’s development pathway by unlocking investment in the region’s abundant natural endowments as drivers of industrial development, job creation, and shared prosperity.

In Nigeria, the delegation has had meetings with the President of the ECOWAS Commission (H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray) and Vice President (Mme. Damtiens Larbli Tchintchibidja). The delegation held ensuing discussions with Commissioners and Directors of the Commission, government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (i.e., Minister of Power, Permanent Secretary and team of Directors; Director General of the West Africa Power Pool; the Permanent Secretary of Solid Minerals and his team of Directors, the Executive Director of West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) Secretariat within the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Director General of the African Development Bank in Nigeria and senior executives of Sustainable Energy for ALL office.

The ECOWAS Investment Summit signals a deliberate shift toward action-oriented regional integration, where high-level political commitment is reinforced by structured economic collaboration, strategic partnerships, and investment-led growth that delivers measurable benefits to the people of West Africa.

Dr. Yumkella’s appointment underscores President Bio’s bold and pragmatic regional leadership in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, with a renewed focus on translating political cooperation into tangible economic outcomes. The Special Envoy’s mandate is centered on catalyzing private-sector-led investments to accelerate regional economic integration, particularly in sustainable and clean energy, mineral beneficiation, agribusiness value chains, and digital transformation—key sectors critical to expanding e-commerce and cross-border trade across West Africa.

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A distinguished global icon and renowned expert in sustainable development, renewable energy, climate action, and economic development. He is a global thought leader who has impacted global policy in various roles, including Director General of UNIDO, UN
Undersecretary-General, and Minister of Trade in Sierra Leone. Join 211 followers for the latest updates.

On behalf of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella held a fruitful meeting with Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration to promote investment across the ECOWAS region, with emphasis on expanding energy trade, advancing the beneficiation of strategic minerals, accelerating digital transformation, and supporting agribusiness development. Dr. Yumkella will brief His Excellency President Bio on a proposed partnership with Nigeria for the two Presidents to co-host an ECOWAS Investment Summit in 2026, building on and following up on the Economic Summit held last year.

Hon. Kandeh Yumkella arrives in Abu Dhabi for IRENA General Assembly

Abu Dhabi, 9 January 2025

Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security has arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for the Sixteenth Session of the IRENA General Assembly.
Dr. Yumkella is invited in his own capacity as Chairman and the work he does for IRENA including as an advisor of the Director -General. Yumkella played a strategic role in the founding of IRENA during his tenure as UNIDO Director-General and Chair of UN-Energy.
Dr. Yumkella is expected to take part in several high-level discussions and will lead meetings on the margins including the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA). In November 2025, Sierra Leone hosted the Second APRA Investment Forum.

Today, at the invitation of Director
-General of IRENA, he joined African Ambassadors to the UAE and Permanent Representatives to IRENA as the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables (APRA) Secretariat briefed them on the activities of the initiative.
Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the UAE and Permanent Representative to
IRENA, His Excellency Mr. Rashid Sesay also attended the briefing. Ambassador Sesay is the Dean of the African Group of Ambassadors in the UAE. Sierra Leone is a founding member of the APRA Initiative.

POLLING THE PATH TO 2028: NEW INSTITUTE OF GOVERNANCE REFORMS’ SURVEY PLACES DR. KANDEH K. YUMKELLA IN A CLEAR LEAD ON ELECTABILITY AND LIKABILITY

_Gassimu Sheku Fofana_

[email protected]

_Freetown, Thursday, December 25, 2025_*|* The recent national survey conducted by the Institute of Governance Reforms released yesterday on internal party democracy and voter perception within the Sierra Leone People’s Party and across Sierra Leone provides an instructive snapshot of the evolving 2028 presidential landscape. With several high-profile figures tested, the data does not merely rank individual popularity but reveals deeper contrasts in national appeal, cross-party acceptability, and perceived readiness for presidential leadership. When examined comparatively, clear distinctions emerge among the leading contenders.

Across both likeability and electability indicators, Hon. Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella occupies a dominant position. On likeability, he records a national score of 48 percent, the highest among all aspirants surveyed. This places him well ahead of the First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, at 38 percent; Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh at 35 percent; and Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh at 32 percent. More consequential than the margin itself is the breadth of Dr. Yumkella’s appeal. He attracts identical likeability ratings of 48 percent among both SLPP and APC supporters, an uncommon outcome in Sierra Leone’s politically polarised environment. None of the other candidates demonstrates a comparable balance across party lines, suggesting that their appeal remains more confined to core partisan or sympathetic constituencies.

Regional performance further differentiates the field. Dr. Yumkella posts commanding likeability figures in the North West at 58 percent and maintains strong results in the Western Area and Eastern Region. By contrast, other contenders show more uneven regional profiles, with strengths concentrated in limited geographic zones and weaker resonance beyond familiar political strongholds. This disparity reinforces the perception of Dr. Yumkella as a nationally oriented figure, while others appear more regionally or demographically anchored.

The same comparative pattern holds on electability, defined by respondents’ stated willingness to vote for a candidate as president. Dr. Yumkella again leads with a national electability score of 38 percent, making him the only aspirant approaching the 40 percent threshold. Chief Minister Sengeh follows at 27 percent, with Fatima Maada Bio at 26 percent and Vice President Juldeh Jalloh at 24 percent. While these figures confirm that the race remains open, they also highlight a substantial gap between Dr. Yumkella and the rest of the field in perceived general-election competitiveness.

Within the SLPP base, Dr. Yumkella’s electability stands at 42 percent, the strongest internal showing recorded. Crucially, he also maintains a robust 35 percent electability rating among APC supporters, reinforcing the argument that his candidacy extends beyond party loyalty into broader national consideration. Other aspirants perform more modestly outside the SLPP base, limiting their perceived ability to consolidate swing voters in a general election context.

Regionally, Dr. Yumkella again distinguishes himself by surpassing the majority threshold in the North West, where he records an electability score of 51 percent. No other candidate achieves a comparable milestone in any region. His solid performances in the Western Area and Eastern Region further contrast with the narrower regional traction observed among his rivals.

Taken together, the comparative data suggest that while all tested candidates retain relevance within the party, they occupy markedly different strategic positions. Chief Minister Sengeh and Vice President Juldeh Jalloh show promise within defined constituencies but trail significantly on national reach and cross-party appeal. Fatima Maada Bio commands visibility and recognition but faces limitations in electability and regional spread when measured against her competitors.

In analytical terms, Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella emerges as the most nationally marketable SLPP contender currently tested. He leads on likeability, tops electability rankings, comes closest to majority acceptance, and uniquely bridges partisan divides.

As internal party debate continues and the field evolves, the survey emphasises a central reality. Among the current contenders, Dr. Yumkella stands apart not merely as a leading aspirant but as the benchmark against which all other SLPP hopefuls are now measured.

With best compliments of the season and sincere wishes for a prosperous New Year, I wish you and your family a festive season full of joy and a lot of celebration

Merry Christmas

Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return