By Alim Jalloh
“This institute will help to impart different skills to the women of this country in line with our agenda for human capital development, thereby empowering them for financial stability in their homes. We are here to celebrate the work of women and to encourage them to increase the scope of what they want to do. We are going into a digital world that requires everyone to be skilled and competitive.’
These were the words of President Dr Julius Maada Bio on Monday 4 October 2019 while officially commissioning a newly-constructed Technical and Vocation Education and Training (TVET) institute and administrative building constructed by the Sierra Leone Police Wives Association at Kingtom Barracks in Freetown.
In her presentation, President of the Police Wives Association, Mrs. Olga Moigbe, said the project was designed to meet the needs of police wives across the country. She said she made use of a holistic approach to make the project a reality – a very fascinating idea geared towards empowering police wives to be self-sustainable and self-reliable.
She said the project was fully funded by Sierra Leoneans and expressed her appreciation to President Bio and other Sierra Leoneans who in diverse ways supported the project, adding that it is indicative of the fact that Sierra Leoneans are capable of doing things and improving the country by themselves. She stated that the project is of great significance to the country because it is in line with President Bio’s free quality education and First Lady Mrs. Fatima Bio’s empowerment drive for women.
Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Richard Moigbe, said the commissioning of the institute is a laudable venture that will help build the capacity of police wives and daughters, other women and girls to empower themselves to be self-reliant. He added that it would also strengthen women to support their families and contribute to President Bio’s agenda for human capital development.
Minister of Internal Affairs, Edward Suluku, congratulated the Police Wives Association on the completion of a project that will cater for the welfare of police wives across the country. He assured that he would work with the Association to replicate similar projects to other regions across the country.
First Lady Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio said she is excited that the project was completed within a very short time. She added that President Bio had demonstrated his belief in women when he gave them the right vision and inspiration. She added that women are an integral part of the development of the country and commended the President for providing the space for women to participate in nation-building.
In his keynote address, President Julius Maada Bio said the completion of the project is a show of quality leadership and commitment, saying that when people work together they can achieve better results. He commended Mrs. Olga Moigbe and the First Lady for their commitment to the successful completion of the project.
“We are investing billions of Leones into education which is the future of our nation. Our students should make use of the free quality education programme because it is about shaping a brighter future for them. Parents should always encourage their kids to pay more attention to their schoolwork and discourage them against all sorts of examination malpractice,” the President said.
The vocational and training institute, which was completed within fourteen months, is equipped with modern facilities and would offer courses in information technology, tailoring and dressmaking – both theoretical and practical, hairdressing, adult literacy programmes, catering, arts and craft and other practical courses.
