By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a ground-breaking move to spotlight outstanding leadership and achievements across various sectors in the country, the Africa Branding Agency (ABrA) in partnership with the National Youth Commission, House of Parliament and the West Africa Women’s & Girls Empowerment has on Monday 18th December, 2023 proudly inaugurated the Young Leadership Award of Excellence and National Young Leadership Conference 2024 at Tees Shopping Mall, on Wilkinson Road in Freetown.
Declaring the purpose of the gathering, the Executive Director of the Africa Branding Agency, Abdul Wahab Bangura, said the Young Leadership Award of Excellence and National Young Leadership Conference 2024 seeks to acknowledge exceptional leaders making significant strides in their respective fields.
He said that they have been acknowledging exceptional leaders for years now, adding that in 2020 they unveiled the Young Leadership Award of Excellence in order to recognize young people that are doing exceptionally well in all walks of life.
Abdul Wahab Bangura pointed out that the idea is also borne out of the immense involvement of young people in leadership roles over the years saying they have been contributing to nation building and as such deemed it fit to recognize their contributions in the country.
He further revealed that aside from those in leadership positions they will also recognize other young people who are also doing well in other areas such as entertainment, entrepreneurship, the media etc.
Reading a Press Statement, the Public Relations Officer at the Africa Branding Agency Brand Salone, Foday Ansumana, pointed out how the business entity is a leading events management planning corporate institution that possesses unparalleled expertise and knowledge-based skills dedicated to showcasing Africa on the global stage.
He added that through institutional reform-based recognition, ABrA is committed to fostering cooperation among African nations in business, economic development and political leadership.
Foday Ansumana revealed that in a notable stride towards actualization of this vision, ABrA is set to host the inaugural ‘Young Leadership Award of Excellence’ in the House of Parliament.
He described the event as one that will be a historic milestone in the quest for effective and efficient youth representation in governance, stating that the award ceremony will honor outstanding young leaders in Sierra Leone, spanning politics, philanthropy, business, institutional leadership, and more, whose remarkable contributions have earned them positions of trust in the nation.
“The epoch-making One-Day Conference and Award Ceremony is scheduled for January 20, 2024, commencing at 4:00 PM. This momentous occasion is a collaborative effort between Africa Branding Agency, Brand Salone, and the West Africa Women & Girls Empowerment, working in partnership with the Sierra Leonean Government through the National Youth Commission,” he further revealed.
He said that the Young Leadership Award of Excellence, an annual gathering of professionals and leaders, serves as a platform for information exchange, professional development, and networking. Positioned as a beacon of hope, the award ceremony is poised to contribute to the regularization of youth representation in governance.
He encouraged all to make further enquiries by visiting their official desk at #1 Old Railway Line, Brookfield’s, Freetown, Sierra Leone, or contact them via email at africabranding2023@gmail.com. Alternatively, the Head of Communications, Media & Public Relations could be contacted at +232 78 860099 or +232 76 111311.
Closing the ceremony was the officially launch and unveiling of  the Young Leadership Award of Excellence and National Young Leadership Conference 2024 by the Chief Executive Officer of Nando Empire, Salifou Finando.
