By John Marrah
The Produce Monitoring Board(PMB) and it partners on Friday 22th November 2019, presented the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le 250,000,000) to the Resident Minister- East, Andrew Fatoma at his Head Office in Kenema.
Presenting the Cheque, the Executive Chairman of Produce Monitoring Board (PMB), Dr. James Vibbi recalled that during the launch of the Eastern University Trust Fund by Chief Minister in Kenema for the construction of the proposed University in the Eastern Region, he said during that ceremony he made a pledged of Two Hundred Million Leones (Le200 Million) on behalf of exporters in that part of the country.
He stated that as a responsible institution he was able to engage all exporters in the region and during their engagement they were able to raise the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones instead of Two Hundred Million Leones, saying that he was impressed with some of the exporters because they do not only care of doing business but also care about the wellbeing of the Kenema district, adding that the money was easily raised and what they exporters has done is just part of their corporate social responsibility in the district.
Dr. Vibbi disclosed that they exporters are planning to raise the money to Four Hundred Million Leones.
The exporters that donated the money are Commodity Trading Company (CTC), TAS Stores, Fawaz, Trading Organic Cocoa, RH Limited and F.T Saad.
He said the reason for this donation is just to motivate other people to fulfil their pledges they made during the launch of the University Trust Fund. He revealed that the basis for such amount of money is for the people to see their visibility as exporters in the district.
Dr. Vibbi concluded by thanking the exporters and called on other exporters to come on board and do more. Receiving the cheque, on behalf of the University Trust Fund Committee, the Resident Minister-East Andrew Fatoma said he is pleased to receive such an amount of money for the construction of the proposed University in the Eastern Region.
He commended the Executive Chairman of PMB and thanked the exporters for what they have done for the people of Eastern Region, assuring that as Resident Minister he will ensure that he monitors all the funds that will be coming into the University Trust Fund.
He reiterated that there have been a lot of promises for the transformation of Eastern Polytechnic into a University, but this time he said the dream of the people of Kenema will come to reality.
The Minister told the gathering that there have been challenges for students who are coming from Kenema to obtain education in other parts of the country, noting that if the University is established those challenges will be addressed and he used the occasion to call on others to fulfil their pledges they made.
Speaking on behalf of Eastern Polytechnic, the Registrar of the institution, John Juana expressed thanks and appreciation on behalf of the institution to PMB and the exporters who raised such amount of money for the transformation of Eastern Polytechnic into a University.
He noted that PMB and the exporters have demonstrated that they have value for education and that they believe in building the knowledge base production of citizens.
He said that Eastern Polytechnic is the only higher institution of learning in the East and also one of the leading technical institutions in the country. He lamented that the establishment of the University is in the heart of everybody in the district including President Julius Maada Bio.
He recommended that the Chief Minister and other stakeholders set up a committee that will manage the University Trust Fund appropriately. He assured PMB and the exporters that they will use the money for its intended propose.
In his statement, the Chief Executive Officer of TAS Stores, Amin Skaikay said that as exporters they have value for education that is why they are ready to support the construction of the proposed University in the Eastern region.
He assured that they are ready to support any project that will benefit the people of region.
