The High Commissioner

Diplomatic and Public Service Career (including ECOWAS Reform Contributions)

His Excellency Dr. Julius Fofanah Sandy is a seasoned Sierra Leonean diplomat and public administrator with over four decades of service in governance, public sector reform, and international diplomacy. Appointed High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2024, he assumed duties on November 12, 2024, and was formally accredited by the ECOWAS President on February 25, 2025. He concurrently represents Sierra Leone to ECOWAS and several other nations.

His civil service career began in the 1980s as an Administrative Officer in the Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Sports. He advanced to Assistant District Officer in Port Loko and Koinadugu Districts (1990–1995), managing local administration, security coordination, and community development. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he served as Secretary for Training and Recruitment (Permanent Secretary level), Head of Governance, Policy, and Technical Assistance in the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning, and Senior Assistant to the Secretary to the President.

He was the last Establishment Secretary and inaugural Director-General of the modern Human Resources Management Office (HRMO), where he transformed civil service HR systems by creating directorates for recruitment, performance management, training, and payroll integrity. Key initiatives included nationwide civil servant verification, biometric ID cards, elimination of ghost workers, payroll audits, and pay harmonization, yielding significant fiscal savings and professionalization.

From 2008 to 2013, as Director of the Public Sector Reform Unit (super-scale appointment), he developed and implemented Sierra Leone's comprehensive public sector reform strategy, coordinated multi-donor partnerships (World Bank, UNDP, African Development Bank, DFID, EU, UNECA, AU, IBSA Trust Fund), and delivered reform objectives with timely reporting.

At the highest levels, he served in the Office of the President as Secretary to the Vice President, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, and Secretary to the President (with Principal Adviser responsibilities on public service matters), frequently acting as Secretary to the President in policy coordination and donor liaison.

In his diplomatic role, Dr. Sandy actively contributes to ECOWAS as High Commissioner. He has chaired meetings of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), an advisory body to the Council of Ministers—including the 4th meeting in Abuja on December 1, 2025—addressing critical issues such as the suspension of Guinea-Bissau following its 2025 coup, regional economic integration, preparations for the ECOWAS single currency (targeted for 2027), public debt management, and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS). These efforts support ECOWAS's ongoing institutional reforms, democratic governance promotion, and regional stability, aligning with Sierra Leone's leadership in the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Educational Background

Dr. Sandy holds a strong academic foundation in public administration and governance:

• BSc from the University of Sierra Leone (under a Sierra Leone Government Scholarship, 1978–1982)
• MA in Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of York, UK (joint UN-Commonwealth Scholar, 1996–1997)
• PhD in Public Policy and Governance (Commonwealth Scholar, Association of Commonwealth Universities, 2000–2003)

He has also participated in prestigious international professional development programs, including:

• Strategic Leadership Programme (RIPA, London, 2009)
• Commonwealth Heads of Public Services Conference (Abuja, Nigeria)
• Managing Public Service Reform (ILO International Training Centre, Turin, Italy, 2006)
• Building Highly-Effective Teams (Imperial College, London, 2003).
• Managing Networked Government (University of Birmingham, 2005).
• Repositioning Management Development Institutes for Public Sector Reform in West Africa (Abuja, 2004).
• Managing a Performance-Oriented Public Service (Commonwealth Secretariat, Kuala Lumpur, 1999).

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Sandy's excellence has been recognized through competitive scholarships and academic honors:

• Commonwealth Scholar (Association of Commonwealth Universities) for his PhD in Public Policy and Governance (2000–2003).
• Joint UN-Commonwealth Scholar for his MA in Public Administration and Public Policy (University of York, 1996–1997).
• Distinction and All-Round Best Student Award, Administrative Officers’ Course, University of Sierra Leone (Institute of Public Administration and Management, 1992).
• Sierra Leone Government Scholarship for his BSc at the University of Sierra Leone (1978–1982).
• Dean’s Academic List, University of Sierra Leone (honored three times, 1979–1981).

These accolades reflect his outstanding academic performance and commitment to public service excellence.

Vision for Sierra Leone-Nigeria Relations

As High Commissioner, Dr. Sandy is dedicated to deepening the historic, fraternal ties between Sierra Leone and Nigeria—rooted in shared history, values, mutual support, and West African solidarity. His vision emphasizes strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, energy, education, security, technology, and sustainable development. He promotes vibrant exchanges to benefit both nations and advance ECOWAS regional integration for collective prosperity, peace, and progress. Through engagements such as presenting Letters of Credence to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (January 2025), facilitating high-level visits (e.g., President Julius Maada Bio's trips), and community outreach, he seeks tangible outcomes for Sierra Leone's diaspora, consular services, and collaborative opportunities under President Bio's leadership.

Academic Contributions

Dr. Sandy has made significant contributions to education and knowledge-sharing. He lectured part-time/voluntarily in Governance and Development Studies, Public Policy Analysis and Management, and Human Resources Management at the University of Sierra Leone (Njala University College, 2004–2007; Institute of Public Administration and Management, 1998–2000). He supervised student dissertations and served as an External Examiner in Management and Development Studies (2008–2009). He has presented and reviewed papers at international research seminars, workshops, and conferences on public sector reform, governance, and development. His academic work bridges theory and practice, mentoring future leaders while drawing from his extensive public service experience.