By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a well-attended ceremony held at Tic Tac Bar & Restaurant on Lumley Beach in Freetown, the Dream Africa Franchise Sierra Leone Limited has on Saturday, November 25th, 2023 officially launched its highly anticipated Job Fair & Graduate Festival 2024. The event also featured the signing ceremony of Ambassadors for the occasion.
Addressing the audience during the launch, Alhaji Osman Suma, the Director of Dream Africa Franchise, shared insights into the vision behind the Job Fair & Graduate Fest.
He emphasized that the initiative aims to celebrate students from various institutions, recognizing their dedication to years of academic pursuits, adding that in a country where youth unemployment stands at an estimated 3.63%, the event seeks to address this challenge by providing a platform for interaction between graduates and potential employers.
Alhaji Osman Suma said that with 30 institutions expected to participate, the Job Fair will serve as a space for young graduates, graduands, prospective graduates, and others to engage with employers and job creators, highlighting the importance of bridging the gap of job experience, a common challenge faced by those entering the job market.
He outlined two major highlights of the event which include the Job Fair which he said will facilitate interactions between attendees and institutions during the day, while the Graduate Festival will celebrate current, outgoing, and former students from various formal and informal institutions. This two-in-one event is expected to attract over 1,500 people, including students, Government officials, non-governmental officials, influencers, dignitaries, and other personalities across Sierra Leone.
The Director noted that during the Job Fair, students from universities, technical and vocational institutions, and entertainers are anticipated to connect with diverse institutions, expanding their networks for job-seeking opportunities, emphasizing that the event aims to be an annual occasion, contributing to increased job opportunities and emphasizing the importance of national productivity for young Sierra Leoneans.
He also highlighted the participation of pupils from different schools, providing them the opportunity to interact with inspirational figures, public figures, and graduates. Additionally, women and youth organizations will be present to promote youth leadership, women empowerment, and gender inclusivity.
Alhaji Osman Suma concluded by informing all that the Job Fair& Graduate Fest, scheduled for January 5th, 2024, will take place at the Gigibonta Car Park, Beach Road. The Job Fair will run from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, while the Graduate Festival will commence at 9:00 pm and conclude at 6:00 am the next day. He however said that the Job Fair is free while the Graduate Festival attendees will pay a small fee of 70 New Leones early bid and 80 New Leones at the gate.
The Dream Africa Franchise looks forward to the support of partners in development for the success of the Job Fair & Graduate Festival.
The event was climaxed by the official launching of the Job Fair & Graduate Festival 2024 followed by the signing ceremony of Ambassadors for the occasion.
