By Amin Kef Sesay
The Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Limited opened a book of condolence for the late Managing Director, Abdulai Fidelis Turay on the 23rd August at its Headquarters in Freetown.
Distinguished national personalities from all walks of life, including the Chief Minister, Secretaries to the President and the Vice President, the Minister of Finance, the Central Bank Governor and his Deputy, senior ministers, MDs of all the commercial banks, and top business magnates in the country signed the book of condolence.
It was a very moving moment. His eldest daughter half way through her tribute broke down in tears as she recalled the wonderful, one in a million dad they had. Her mother described her late husband as a very simple man with a very large heart who gave generously to others in need.
The Central Bank Governor in his tribute noted that it was Fidelis Turay’s exemplary leadership and performance at SLCB that made the IMF abandoned their idea of selling the two state owned commercial banks – Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) and Rokel Commercial Bank (SL) Limited (RCB).
The Finance Minister who said he studied Economics together with the late Fidelis at FBC remarked on his integrity as both a human being and a professional banker.
SLCB Board Chairman puts Fidelis’s achievement in the three years that he headed SLCB in graphic terms when he reported that on ten major commercial banking performance indicators, SLCB tops all of them including largest customer base and largest revenue.
Every speaker including the Presidents of the Junior and Senior Staff Associations described Fidelis as a family man who loved his family endlessly. His love was extended to his SLCB family, 90 percent of whom he rewarded with promotions and external training.
Another remarkable human quality Fidelis had that was highlighted was his down to earth nature – he had an easy rapport with every level of the Bank’s staff, such that the JSA President noted that over fourteen years with the Bank, he was taken aback when he saw Fidelis rubbing skin with them at a Bank celebration.
In a nutshell, everyone agreed that the late Abdulai Fidelis Turay was not only a consummate highly professional banker with an impeccable distinction for honesty and integrity but was above all that kind and considerate of others.
