Rokel Commercial Bank (RCBank), on Thursday, 16th July 2026, successfully hosted the third edition of its Walton Gilpin Cyber Circuit Series, bringing together entrepreneurs, business owners, students, professionals and members of the public for an intensive cybersecurity and digital financial empowerment programme at the DBIM-DBAM Hall on Wellington Street in Freetown.

Organised in strategic collaboration with CEST Applied Intelligence UK, the programme focused on the theme “Protecting Our Communities in the Digital Age”, with participants receiving practical knowledge on cybersecurity, digital safety and financial empowerment in an increasingly connected world.

Delivering the keynote address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr. Ekundayo Walton Gilpin, underscored the importance of proactive cybersecurity, stressing that prevention remains the most effective strategy against cybercrime.

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“The best form of defence is attack,” Dr. Gilpin said, explaining that individuals and businesses must take proactive steps to understand cyber threats before they become victims.

He highlighted the critical role banks play in safeguarding customers’ financial assets but noted that customers also have a responsibility to protect the digital devices and platforms they use for banking transactions. He encouraged participants to understand how fraudsters operate and to remain vigilant while using digital financial services.

Dr. Gilpin emphasised that mobile phones, internet banking platforms, mobile money accounts, email accounts and social media profiles have become valuable targets for cybercriminals and therefore require strong protection.

He warned that personal information shared carelessly online can easily be exploited by fraudsters for identity theft, financial fraud and other criminal activities.

“Everything you share online has value. Criminals are constantly looking for opportunities to use your personal information against you. Protect your identity, protect your finances and think carefully before sharing sensitive information,” he advised.

 

The RCBank CEO further encouraged participants to adopt practical cybersecurity habits in their daily lives, including locking their phone and computer screens whenever unattended, regularly updating software and applications, installing applications only from official app stores, never sharing personal identification numbers (PINs) or One-Time Passwords (OTPs), confirming recipient details before sending money electronically, and paying close attention to banking alerts and account notifications.

He stressed that these simple but effective practices can significantly reduce the risk of becoming victims of online scams and financial fraud.

Throughout the interactive programme, participants received practical demonstrations on protecting Android and iPhone devices, securing internet banking and mobile banking applications, safeguarding WhatsApp accounts through two-step verification, protecting Gmail accounts with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, securing social media accounts and recognising common online scams, including fake investment schemes, romance scams, lottery scams and phishing attacks.

The event also featured a special financial empowerment session aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs, traders, fishermen, women-led businesses and young entrepreneurs. Participants were guided on qualifying for SME loans, preparing successful loan applications, managing business finances, separating personal and business finances, improving cash flow, increasing business turnover and building sustainable enterprises.

Interactive workshops, live demonstrations, real-life cyber threat scenarios, question-and-answer sessions and networking opportunities allowed participants to gain practical experience while engaging directly with cybersecurity and banking experts.

The programme concluded with a renewed call for collective responsibility in creating a safer digital environment across Sierra Leone. Participants were encouraged to remain informed, practise safe online habits and work together to combat cybercrime.

The successful event reaffirmed Rokel Commercial Bank’s commitment to promoting digital literacy, financial inclusion and cybersecurity awareness, while empowering Sierra Leoneans to safely embrace the opportunities of the digital economy.