In a breakthrough moment for Sierra Leone’s digital economy, Chief Minister Dr. Moinina David Sengeh has announced that Facebook monetization tools are now available to content creators in the country, marking a significant step toward empowering local influencers, artists, and entrepreneurs in the growing global creator economy.
The announcement came via the Chief Minister’s official social media page, where he acknowledged the milestone as part of a broader mandate assigned by President Julius Maada Bio to unlock social media monetization for Sierra Leoneans.
“Some of Facebook monetization is now available in Sierra Leone,” Dr. Sengeh wrote. “I am no social media celebrity but President Bio gave me a task—to fight for social media monetisation in Sierra Leone. We have been actively working on it across the board with TikTok, Facebook and more! (I also earn a bit :))”
Empowering Creators, Expanding Opportunity
The news means that Sierra Leonean creators on Meta’s Facebook platform can now generate revenue through features such as:
• In-stream ads
• Stars (fan donations)
• Subscriptions
• Bonus programs, depending on eligibility
While not all features are available immediately, Dr. Sengeh assured citizens that the government will continue engaging with digital platforms to expand and optimize the available monetization tools.
“Yes, there are more tools to be added and I can assure you, we will not stop working hard. Together #WeAreDelivering,” he added.
A Government-Led Push for the Creator Economy
This development comes after months of advocacy and technical collaboration between the Government of Sierra Leone and leading global tech companies, including Meta (Facebook) and TikTok, in an effort to mainstream digital innovation as part of national development.
Under Dr. Sengeh’s leadership, the country has positioned digital transformation and youth empowerment as key pillars of its post-pandemic recovery strategy, with the belief that monetizing social media will:
• Provide income-generating opportunities for young people
• Encourage creative expression and entrepreneurship
• Enhance digital inclusion across urban and rural areas
Celebration Across the Creator Community
The announcement was met with excitement from Sierra Leone’s growing community of digital content creators, musicians, vloggers, comedians, and educators, many of whom have long relied on platforms like Facebook and TikTok to share content—without compensation until now.
“This is big for us,” said Fatmata Bangura, a local fashion vlogger. “We’ve been creating for years. Now we can finally start earning like other creators across Africa and the world.”
Looking Ahead
As monetization tools roll out, the Government of Sierra Leone plans to work with Meta and other platforms to provide training, policy guidance, and technical support to help creators understand platform rules, maximize earnings, and ensure online safety.
The Chief Minister’s proactive digital diplomacy reflects a new era of public-private collaboration where governments work to unlock global tech benefits for their citizens.
With Facebook monetization now active, Sierra Leone joins the ranks of African countries positioning their creative sectors for the digital economy of the future—proving that even small nations can achieve big digital wins through vision, advocacy, and persistence.
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