By Foday Moriba Conteh
In continuation of rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility and support to the Government’s Human Capital Development initiative in the country, the Bolloré Transport & Logistics Company on Wednesday 20th October, 2021 awarded scholarships worth Le102, 110, 796 to 30 University students who are residents of both the Moa Wharf and Sea Side communities which fall within the operational area of the company. The awarding ceremony took place at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay at Cline Town in Freetown.
It could be recalled that the scholarship scheme was commenced by the Bolloré Transport & Logistics Company started 2019 during which period 20 students benefited and in 2020, 27 students were also awarded and this year the company has also awarded 30 students bringing it to a total of 77 students who have benefited so far from the scholarship programme with a total of over Le240 Million spent for the past three (3) years.
The beneficiaries were selected from different universities across the country namely Fourah Bay College (FBC), College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), University of Makeni (UNIMAK), Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), College of International Business Management and Technology (CIBMAT), UNITECH etc.
In her address, the Human Resource Manager of Bolloré Transport & Logistics, Claunnda Morgan, described the move by the company as part of fulfilling its Corporate Social Responsibility within their operational areas which are the Moa Wharf and Sea Side communities, adding that for the past three years they have supported 77 students from the scholarship programme with a total of over Le240 Million spent for the past three (3) years.
She added that they are pleased to assist the students as they pursue their courses, adding that after being in a similar position like them she understands what it means to acquire education in a nation like Sierra Leone.
The Human Resource Manager furthered revealed that the scholarship is strictly by merit and that students went through a Scholarship Committee headed the by Head of Communications of the Freetown Terminal Limited, Gassimu S. Fofana, who intimated that students are finally selected through an interview panel conducted by Bolloré Transport & Logistics among the dozens that applied underscoring how they took into consideration gender balance.
She encouraged them to take the opportunity the organization has offered them in order to achieve their dreams and become great people in society who will in return give back to society.
Osman S. Conteh, a graduate from Fourah Bay College with Bsc in Civil Engineering, who benefited from the scholarship in the 2017/2018 academic year and is currently working Bolloré Transport & Logistics, commended the company for their gestures in supporting the less privileged within the Moa Wharf and Sea Side communities.
He said that in 2017/2018 he was one of the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme which he said supported him greatly towards the completion of his studies.
He concluded that he is very proud to have benefited from the scholarship scheme of which he disclosed that through the support from the company he had graduated from Fourah Bay College with Bsc in Civil Engineering and he is also employee.
One of this year’s beneficiaries, M’balu Mohamed Bangura, a final year student at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), thanked Bolloré Transport & Logistics for the kind gesture which she graciously said is not only important but very timely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She noted that her aim is to contribute positively to her community stating how the scholarship would serve as a stepping stone to achieve that dream. “I pray that your company will yield more fruits for being one of the sponsors of my journey,” she expressed gratitude.
