By Amin Kef (Ranger)
President Dr Julius Maada Bio received a cross-section of members from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament on Friday 2 February 2024 , who paid a courtesy visit in recognition of his role in the many national and regional peace efforts and for serving with humility.
Led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dr Sidie Mohamed Tunis and the First Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, the legislators from the different countries said they were also there to present the President with a frame of appreciation for his leadership, describing his humility in service as exceptional.
The First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament and former Deputy Speaker of the 9th Assembly of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Hon. Wase, thanked President Bio for his good work in Sierra Leone as well as in the sub-region. He praised his commitment and high interest in the region, particularly during their tenure, saying they had greatly benefited from his support.
“We have a lot to copy from you. We pray that many young Africans will copy from you as well. You are among the men of character who have served and are still serving. I wish to have another opportunity to learn from you. You have served in many capacities, globally and in the region, with that same humility and good conduct. Thank you very much,” he said.
President Julius Maada Bio welcomed the ECOWAS Members of Parliament and said he was always happy and proud to host them in the country, pointing out that their visits to other member States were part of an integration process.
He said it was an indication that the MPs were keen on the integration process as a continent, stressing that it took ordinary people to actualize that dream. He thanked the leadership of the ECOWAS Parliament for making that distant dream become a reality.
The President also noted that the sub-region and the continent, in particular, had a lot to gain from conducting movements from within and across borders.
He explained how proud and happy he was to be a host to the final Parliamentary Sessions that would bring an end to the present tenure. He congratulated all the Members of Parliament for serving the sub-region and for working with the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, a Sierra Leonean.
Earlier in the day, recognizing the pivotal role of education in global sustainable development, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, unveiled a significant initiative during the closing session of the extraordinary meeting in Freetown ,the final High-Level Seminar of the 5th Legislature.
He disclosed a fund of Ten Billion Leones ( NLe 10 Million), for five years, dedicated to supporting tertiary students in Sierra Leone across various courses.
Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis unveiled the Scheme while addressing University students from FCB, IPAM and Milton Margai Technical University.
Highlighting the continuity of this effort, Speaker Tunis mentioned that Sixty-Seven university students have already benefited through the One Love Salone Foundation. He emphasized their commitment to expanding the program, aiming to grant scholarships to One Hundred students this year and targeting One Hundred and Fifty students in the coming year.
The initiative, conceived by the Speaker and his wife, Nabeela Ferida Tunis, is a testament to their dedication to giving back to society by providing education opportunities for the country’s youth.
In addition to scholarships, the project includes providing laptops to second-year students, alleviating the challenges of rushed assignments and facilitating convenient access to learning materials. Two Billion Leones have already been allocated to support this aspect of the project for 2023/2024 academic year.
Acknowledging the positive strides made by female students, Speaker Tunis expressed the intention to encourage more girls to benefit from the scheme, recognizing their current outperformance compared to male counterparts.
The overarching goal, as Speaker Tunis concluded, aligns with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision to enhance human capital investment through education. The project aims to elevate the country’s literacy rate, positioning Sierra Leone competitively on the global stage.
The citizens of Sierra Leone resonate with this colossal gesture in human capital development through education. Mandela of South Africa once said, “…. no country will develop except its citizens are educated”.
It’s upon this backdrop the President of Sierra Leone saw the necessity to increasingly invest in the educational sector.
Thank you Mr President for such a wonderful move to actualize your visions for the betterment of our beloved HOME 🏡. Land that we loved our Sierra Leone!!