By Amin Kef Sesay
24 selected schools across the country became the first beneficiaries from the Adonis Abboud Trust Fund & Pikin Bizness donation, as they received 700 Radios at a low key but auspicious ceremony held on Monday 26th April, 2021 at the St. Edwards Secondary School, Kingtom in Freetown, during the launch of the ‘One Student One Radio’ campaign.
Speaking during the event, Chairman of Pikin Bizness and Adonis Abboud Trust Fund, Dr. Adonis Abboud, said that the move by the organization is a way of complementing Government’s Free Quality Education initiative and the provision of the 700 Radios to various schools is geared towards allowing pupils to stay abreast with national as well as international events and other news, which will eventually boost their general knowledge.
He maintained that the first of a total of 24 selected schools nationwide will benefit from the gesture, adding that their ultimate goal is for all pupils to own such useful communication gadgets, furthering that he is of the conviction that other donors will emulate their gesture and help reach more pupils.
Deputy Project Coordinator, while addressing the recipients, requested that on a monthly basis each should submit few lines outlining the benefits acquired. Each student received a Pikin Bizness COVID-19 Mask and a radio.
A beneficiary, Ibrahim Conteh, a pupil of the St. Edwards Secondary School, expressed gratitude to the Adonis Abboud Trust Fund & Pikin Bizness for the kind gesture, describing such as not only important, but a very timely intervention.
He noted that some of them were unable to benefit from the Government Radio Teaching program, which was instituted by the Government with technical support from UNFPA as a direct response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which led to the closure of schools, because of the unavailability of radios, but the donated radios will help them greatly.
Dr. Adonis Abboud also used the opportunity to speak on the 60th Anniversary, adding that as the Sierra Leone flag flies in the wind to celebrate another independence anniversary it is indeed an auspicious time to reflect and remind ourselves that freedom is priceless. He added that this diamond jubilee becomes even more significant, when one recollects that thirty years ago Sierra Leone was in the abyss and in the throes of a brutal war that threatened its very existence, adding that the State is on the cusp of a different trajectory towards the realization of the dreams of its founding fathers and the hopes and aspirations of Sierra Leoneans.
“Amidst the celebration, we salute all our heroes past and present, who through blood, tears and prayers, have ensured that despite our diversity, we continue to strive in unity. Indeed, this special celebration is an amazing opportunity to remind ourselves of our collective responsibility to value our nation and work towards building a future, full of patriotic love. We’ve had enough of divisive tendencies. It’s now time for a better Sierra Leone. I join you in doffing my hat to Sierra Leone at 60” he concluded.
