By Amin Kef Sesay
Former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma on the 30th October, 2020 was the proud recipient of the Euro Knowledge Leadership and Humanitarian Awards in acknowledgement and celebration of exemplary leadership who has made significant contributions and positive impacts in specific fields as a role model, philanthropist and inspirational leaders. He was given the Award during the Euroknowledge Philanthropy Leadership Forum 2020.
The Ex-President was among other influential personalities that bagged the prestigious award including Sallo Polak (Executive Director, Philanthropy Connections Thailand), Mr. Christian Paradis (Former Ministry of Trade and Industry, Canada), Ms. Benedict Lee (President-Elect Rotary Club, Hong Kong), Mr. Tsvi Gal (Former CTO, Morgan Stanley USA), Dr. Manu Chandaria OBE (Kenyan Billionaire and Chairman, Comcraft Group Kenya). They were all honoured with the Prestigious Euroknowledge Awards on the 30th October 2020, at the House of Lords in London.
Other personalities honoured at the ceremony were Sadiya Umar Farouq (Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social development, Nigeria), Dr. Mahmood Ahmadu (Chairman, Integrated Online Services), Ms. Florence Otedola ( DJ CUPPY) Founder, DJ CUPPY Foundation), Dr. Anthony Nwachukwu (CEO, Innovate Pay 1).
The Keynote Speaker for the event was Mark Minevich (World Renowned Visionary) and was introduced by Angelica Sirontin (Co-Founder, Digital Pioneers Network and the event was moderated by BBC Business Reporter, Ms Jayne Constantinis.
The event, which was organized by Euro-Knowledge Ltd, an international consultancy and advisor to many leading businesses, as well as Governments around the world, was graced by captains of industries, policymakers and business magnates among others.
In his brief statement, Ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma started by thanking the coordinators of Euroknowledge for putting together the programme. He said that ongoing discussion that is taking place bordering around philanthropy was indeed an interesting one. Ernest Koroma furthered that the art of giving has to be in an individual and it does not matter the level of affluence a person enjoys if one is not a giver one will still not give. He noted that people in very remote and poor communities have people in there that share the little they have.
He added that sharing or giving is something that is required now especially as the level of poverty has increased and with all what is going around us there is a need as human beings, philanthropists, politicians to show greater empathy because some people are caught in the vicious cycle of poverty and the little help given will help get them out of the cycle.
“The little help one gives to help somebody’s schooling will help the recipient get out of the cycle, come and give back to society and the little help that is given for medical attention will help to save lives,” the Ex-President maintained underscoring the importance of helping the needy.
Ernest Bai Koroma, who was born on 2 October 1953 is a Sierra Leonean politician who served as the fourth President of Sierra Leone from 17 September 2007 to 4 April 2018.
Born and raised in Makeni in Northern Sierra Leone, Koroma spent more than 24 years working in the private insurance industry before entering politics in 2002. From 1988 to 2002, he was the Managing Director of the Reliance Insurance Trust Corporation (Ritcorp).
Koroma earned a Bachelor’s degree from Fourah Bay College in 1976; and is an insurance agent by profession.
Koroma was elected as leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, on 24 March 2002, after defeating then-incumbent APC leader Edward Turay. Koroma stood as the APC candidate in the 2002 presidential election but was defeated in a free and fair election by incumbent President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who won 70.3% of the vote, to Koroma’s 22.35%. Koroma conceded defeat.
Koroma was later elected to Parliament, representing his home District of Bombali from 2002 to 2007. In 2005, he was elected the Minority Leader of Parliament and remained in that position until his election to the presidency in 2007.
The programme was sponsored by Foreign Investment Network (FIN) and Premier Lotto Limited (PLL).
The Foreign Investment Network is a consulting, publishing and investment promotion firm established in 2001 with Headquarters in London, United Kingdom and also registered in America with Africa Regional office in Abuja, Nigeria. FIN main objective is to meet the investment needs and promote emerging economies in Africa through our marketing strategies which include: International conferences, Business meetings, Advocacy visits, Investment fora and International exhibitions. We are widely recognized for our power in fund raising, creative media, publishing and communication consultancy through it media campaign and image building services using the international leading media
FIN has special passion for promoting and showcasing investment opportunities in Africa and beyond to the international investors from all parts of the world.
Over the years, FIN has stamped it authority in the following areas:
Project Financing, Location Branding, Entrepreneurship Matchmaking, Conference & Exhibition, Publishing, Joint Venture, Training & Workshops and Media Relations.
Premier Lotto Limited (PLL) also known as Baba Ijebu is a Gaming Company which was incorporated in 2001 and was established to carry out the Lotto business in Nigeria. The founder and current Chief Executing Officer of the company is Chief Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu.
Premier Lotto comprises of a management team that has over 40 years combined experience in the gaming industry and has been able to leverage on such experience to develop, sustain and strengthen the business over the years thus giving rise to one of the biggest lotto practice in West Africa.
In order to achieve best practice and ensure excellent and timely service to its customers,
PLL partnered with EDITEC S.A of Paris, France and some other indigenous business and technology professionals to provide technology and back end support for the company. This has enabled the business to continuously provide quick and efficient services to its numerous customers.
Premier Lotto currently has one of the biggest lotto practices in Nigeria operating with over 200 principal agents supervising over 16,000 sub agents/sales representatives spread across the western region of Nigeria. The company’s ability to pay winnings consistently has made her the leader in the gaming industry.
The company is currently concluding plans to replicate its Services across the entire nation adopting different expansion strategies such as Alliances and Partnerships.
