In a historic move set to reshape the leadership of the Sierra Leone Traders Union (SLeTU), Madam Kadija Stanley Bangura has officially declared her candidacy for the position of Vice President ahead of the Union’s National Delegates Conference scheduled for 25th October 2026 in Kenema City.
Bangura’s declaration marks the first time in the history of SLeTU, established in 2005, that a woman is contesting for the Vice Presidential seat, a development widely described by market women and traders across the country as “breaking the ceiling.”
As a seasoned trader and administrator with over 20 years of standing with traders, Kadija Stanley Bangura currently serves as the National Farmers Federation of Sierra Leone (NaFFSL) Coordinator for Bombali District. She is also a former Regional Chairlady and a long-standing voice for market women from Makeni to Kenema, Bombali to Bo.
Running under the rallying call – “A Woman of Proven Character, Courage & Caliber” – her campaign is anchored on integrity, dignity and prosperity. Her priorities include protecting traders’ rights, promoting fair trade, empowering women in business, improving market infrastructure, and facilitating access to trade credit for small-scale traders.
Supporters describe her as “The Woman The Market Trusts” – a trailblazer, a mother, and a leader of substance whose voice is every trader’s voice. Her slogan, “When Women Lead, Markets Thrive, Nations Grow,” has already gained traction among women traders.
The election, which will be held under the official SLeTU theme “Service to All,” is expected to bring together delegates from all 16 districts.
If elected, Bangura says she will focus on uniting traders, empowering market women, and building prosperity for all.
