Joe Yilla

Joe Yilla is Executive Secretary of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, where he leads the Secretariat and helps strengthen the Chamber's role in private-sector development, trade facilitation, business advocacy, and institutional growth.

He is also the founder of KNESST, a venture design studio focused on turning ideas, skills, and creativity into viable enterprises, income opportunities, and long-term economic value. Through KNESST and related initiatives, he has worked with founders, organisations, and communities to design and deliver entrepreneurship programmes, incubation initiatives, developer challenges, and design-led platforms grounded in practical execution.

His work sits at the intersection of trade and private-sector development, institution building and economic productivity, entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems, technology, AI and digital transformation, and talent development.

He holds a Master's in Accounting and Finance from BPP University and writes and speaks about how African countries can turn ideas, resources, and geographic advantages into more productive economies.