Shri Gurudwara Sahib SL Ltd., Lumley Freetown, in collaboration with the Indian Diaspora, hosted the 5th annual Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship 2026, an initiative aimed at supporting needy and meritorious Sierra Leonean children with educational assistance. The event was hosted on Friday 28th August 2026 at Sierra Palms in Aberdeen, Freetown.
The scholarship programme, which began in 2022 with 62 beneficiaries, has expanded significantly over the years and is supporting 350 children in 2026. The beneficiaries, drawn from private schools in Freetown and other parts of Sierra Leone, received school fees, learning materials and other educational support.
The initiative is backed by the Indian community in Sierra Leone and seeks to reduce the financial barriers faced by families struggling to provide quality education for their children while promoting the values of service, discipline and responsibility.
Chairing the ceremony, Harwinder Kaur Khalsa, popularly known as Shina, urged the 350 beneficiaries to take responsibility for their education, work hard and develop good character. She said the scholarship is not simply about paying school fees but about recognizing the potential of young Sierra Leoneans and assuring them that their future mattered.
“Education is the light that removes darkness,” Harwinder Kaur Khalsa  said, describing the scholarship as an effort to remove barriers that prevent talented children from reaching their potential. She urged the beneficiaries to treat the scholarship as a seed that must be nurtured through hard work, discipline and good character.
She reminded the students that although they attended different schools and wore different uniforms, they shared common aspirations and represented communities across Sierra Leone. She also commended parents for their sacrifices and encouraged other individuals and organisations to support the expansion of the programme, noting that thousands of children still require similar assistance.
Speaking at the event, the Mukh Sevadar of Shri Gurudwara Sahib, Lumley and Chief Executive Officer of Jeety Trading Company, Mohinder Bir Singh Sachdeva, popularly known as Pa Jeety, said the scholarship had grown from 62 beneficiaries in 2022 to 350 in 2026.
Mohinder Bir Singh Sachdeva said the programme was founded on the Sikh principles of sharing with others and promoting the welfare of all. He explained that the 2026 package was valued at more than Le2 billion in old Leones and included full school fees for the academic year, school bags, exercise books, stationery and other learning materials.
Each beneficiary also received a lunch box and water bottle, while NLe500 was provided to assist with the purchase of a school uniform and shoes.
Mohinder Bir Singh Sachdeva described the initiative as an investment in the future of Sierra Leone, saying the support went beyond financial assistance to provide children with “hope, dignity, self-respect and an opportunity to improve their future.” He urged the beneficiaries to study seriously, respect their parents and teachers and after becoming successful, support other children in need.
He also acknowledged the contribution of members of the Indian business community to Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector, including Harish Agani of T. Choithram & Sons for supporting 1,648 free eye operations and Shahroz Ansari of Alhamd Groups for assisting with surgical bills for more than 100 Sierra Leoneans affected by chronic diseases.
Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the High Commission of India in Freetown, Neeraj Kumar Saini, on his remarks, described the ceremony as a celebration of compassion, equality and service to humanity. He commended the Gurudwara and Indian Diaspora for investing in the education of Sierra Leonean children.
Neeraj Kumar Saini reaffirmed capital development in Sierra Leone, highlighting the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarship programme. He disclosed that 50 Sierra Leonean students received ICCR scholarships in 2026 to pursue higher education in India.
He also highlighted India’s wider development assistance to Sierra Leone, including the provision of 15 haemodialysis machines, 1,000 metric tonnes of rice for the school feeding programme and a US$990,000 grant for a project supporting persons with disabilities.
Neeraj Kumar Saini further announced that India is extending a US$32 million Line of Credit through the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development for the construction of the University of Science and Technology in Koidu, Kono District. He expressed hope that some of the scholarship beneficiaries would eventually pursue higher technical education there.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Hon. Sahr Edward Nyuma, commended the Indian community, Sachdeva and the Gurudwara for their contributions to education and healthcare. He described the scholarship as an investment in Sierra Leone’s human capital and stressed that education is a major instrument for transforming individuals, families and communities.
“Education is the only instrument you can use to change your life and change the story of this generation,” Hon. Sahr Edward Nyuma said, urging beneficiaries to work hard and make effective use of the opportunity.
The President of the Indian Business Council in Sierra Leone, Harkishin Balani, also urged the beneficiaries to take their education seriously, avoid bad company and remain focused on their goals. He said the expansion from 62 children to 350 beneficiaries demonstrated the commitment of the organizers to investing in Sierra Leone’s future.
Harkishin Balani encouraged the students to study hard, respect their parents and teachers and use the opportunity to overcome poverty. He expressed confidence that the beneficiaries could become successful and responsible citizens who would make their families and country proud.
Representing the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Chief Education Officer, Edward Kpakra, commended the scholarship programme for improving access to education. He traced its growth from 62 beneficiaries in 2022 to 130 in 2023, 127 in 2024, 200 in 2025 and 350 in 2026.
Edward Kpakra said the scholarship is helping to remove financial barriers to education and urged the beneficiaries to view the assistance as an opportunity to build their future and eventually give back to others.
He also thanked the Government of India for its support to Sierra Leone, particularly in education and the school feeding programme.
Head of Choithrams, Harish Agnani, commended the Indian Diaspora for sustaining the scholarship and described the provision of full scholarships to 350 children as a significant achievement.
Harish Agnani noted that the programme, which began with 62 beneficiaries, had grown considerably and expressed hope that it would expand further. He urged the beneficiaries to study hard, respect their teachers and parents and make good use of the opportunity.
Speaking also at the ceremony was the Director of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Josephine Fatima Kamara, who encouraged the beneficiaries to dream big and work towards becoming professionals in fields including medicine, law, engineering, journalism, aviation and business. Etc.
The SLBC DG emphasized that dreams could only be achieved through hard work, discipline, commitment and good character. She urged the children to “study hard, listen to your parents and teachers, and believe in yourself,” while reminding parents to encourage and nurture both the academic abilities and talents of their children.
She further encouraged the Indian community and the Gurudwara to continue supporting the initiative and appealed to beneficiaries to remember those who assisted them when they eventually become successful.
The Regional Police Commander for Freetown West, Sylvester, M. N. Koroma, described the scholarship as an investment not only in the beneficiaries but also in the future of Sierra Leone.
- N. Koroma said quality education combined with good character could help young people overcome poverty and avoid negative social behaviour. He urged the beneficiaries to study hard, respect their parents and teachers and use the school materials and other support provided to them responsibly.
The ceremony underscored the growing role of the Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship in supporting access to private education for children from families facing financial difficulties. With the number of beneficiaries increasing to 350 and the educational package expanding to include school fees, learning materials, uniforms and other essentials, organizers expressed hope that the initiative would reach more children in the coming years.
