15/03/2026
The Story of RIS Investment Firm Part 1
From Brotherhood to Investment Firm
“Be Your Brother’s Keeper”
Long before the name RIS Investment Firm existed, there was a simple but powerful bond between a group of young friends.
The story begins at Prince of Wales School in Freetown, one of Sierra Leone’s historic institutions known for producing some of the country’s brightest minds. Among the students were a group of young men who shared more than just classrooms — they shared ambition, loyalty, and a vision for the future.
As early as 2012, many of them had formed friendships that would later become the foundation of something greater. Within the school environment, this group of friends began referring to themselves as the Backbenchers Association.
The name was informal and playful, but the individuals behind it were anything but ordinary. They were known among their peers as brilliant, hardworking, intelligent, and determined young people. At the same time, they maintained a strong spirit of friendship and humor. They were serious about their goals but never lost their sense of brotherhood and fun.
The Backbenchers Association was more than just a nickname. It represented a circle of friends who constantly supported one another academically, socially, and personally.
Over time, more friends joined the circle, especially between 2016 and 2017 during their final secondary school years. The group grew stronger as members prepared for one of the most important academic milestones in Sierra Leone — the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
When the examination results were released, life began to take different paths for members of the group. Some were fortunate enough to gain immediate admission into universities, while others had to retake the examinations in order to meet university entry requirements.
Despite these differences in circumstances, the bond among the friends did not weaken. Instead, it became even more meaningful.
Those who entered university faced new challenges and opportunities, while those preparing to retake exams continued their journey with determination. Yet they all remained connected by a shared understanding: no one would be left behind.
It was during this period that the idea of creating a more structured network began to emerge.
The friends realized that their bond was something valuable — something worth preserving beyond school days. They wanted to maintain their connection, support one another through university life, and continue building a network that could help them grow academically and professionally.
From this vision, the idea of “The Brotherhood” was born.
The Brotherhood was initially created as a simple platform where members could meet regularly, share ideas, encourage one another, and maintain the bond that had begun during their secondary school years.
Meetings were organized so members could gather, talk about their academic journeys, discuss life challenges, and simply enjoy each other’s company. The goal was not only serious discussion but also maintaining friendship, trust, and unity among the group.
It was a safe space for young men who believed in supporting each other through the early stages of adulthood.
The Brotherhood also became a place where members could motivate one another to succeed, especially those who were still working hard to secure university admission.
The philosophy that guided these meetings was simple: everyone should rise together.
As the meetings continued, members began to realize that the Brotherhood had the potential to become something bigger than a social circle. The conversations gradually expanded from friendship to topics such as:
education
leadership
entrepreneurship
investment
national development
The group began to think about how their collective intelligence and ambition could be used to create opportunities not only for themselves but also for others.
This realization led to an important turning point.
Members decided to transform the Brotherhood into a more structured and purposeful organization. The goal was to maintain the spirit of unity while expanding into areas such as investment, entrepreneurship, and youth development.
From this transformation emerged the name RIS Investment Firm.
The word “Firm” symbolized professionalism, structure, and seriousness of purpose. The organization was no longer just a brotherhood of friends — it had evolved into a network of young thinkers preparing themselves for leadership and investment.
Yet despite the new name and broader vision, the organization never abandoned its original philosophy.
The motto adopted by the members captured the spirit that had always defined them:
“Be Your Brother’s Keeper.”
This principle continued to guide the culture of RIS Investment Firm. Members supported each other academically, celebrated each other’s successes, and encouraged one another to pursue excellence in their careers.
Over time, the organization expanded its activities into youth empowerment and agricultural investment, recognizing agriculture as one of the most important sectors for Sierra Leone’s economic development.
RIS Investment Firm organized educational seminars such as the Youthful Harvest Seminar, where professionals and experts spoke to young people about entrepreneurship, leadership, agropreneurship, and innovation in agriculture.
The organization also conducted practical initiatives like the Backyard Green Ventures Workshop, which encouraged participants to begin small-scale farming and understand the economic potential of agriculture.
These programs demonstrated that RIS was committed not only to discussion but also to practical action and youth empowerment.
Eventually, the organization reached another milestone when it was officially registered with the National Youth Commission of Sierra Leone as a Youth Serving Agency, under the National Youth Commission Act No. 11 of 2009.
This recognition affirmed RIS Investment Firm’s commitment to supporting the development of young people across Sierra Leone.
Today, several years after its formation, RIS Investment Firm reflects on a remarkable journey.
Many of its members have successfully completed their university education and have begun building careers in fields such as science, engineering, technology, statistics, and public service.
In fact, approximately 98 percent of the members have graduated, fulfilling one of the earliest goals of the Brotherhood — to help each other succeed academically.
Yet the most powerful achievement of RIS Investment Firm is not simply the degrees its members earned.
It is the brotherhood that endured through every stage of their journey.
From a group of high school friends sitting in the back benches of Prince of Wales School…
To a brotherhood determined to support one another…
To a youth investment network committed to empowerment and development…
The story of RIS Investment Firm is a testament to the power of unity.
And as members gather again today to discuss the revival of the organization, the spirit that started it all remains alive.
Because at its core, RIS Investment Firm has always been about one thing:
brotherhood, responsibility, and collective progress.
And the words that have guided the organization from the beginning still echo today:
Be Your Brother’s Keeper.
