By Amin Kef Sesay
There are individuals in life who, through hard work and dedication has made sterling accomplishments in life by positively impacting the lives of others.
One of such Sierra Leoneans is indisputably the CEO of LAKE Group of Companies, Alhaji K. Tarawally, fondly known as Laj-K, who has been selected to receive an award in the 4th edition of the 100 Most Influential Young Leaders Award in Africa.
Sierra Leone, amongst many other African countries, has been selected to host this year’s edition of the annual award ceremony which is scheduled to take place from 19th – 21st November 2021, at the Five Star Golden Tulip Hotel in Freetown. The organizers of this prestigious awards ceremony, the Pan African Youth Foundation have already confirmed in a statement published through their official Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/panafricanyouthleadershipfoundation/
Sierra Leone is expected to welcome some of the brightest and most influential young leaders from different parts across the African continent, in business, politics, civil society, science, innovation, and more. This means vibrant young African leaders from various walks of life will converge in Freetown for this all-important event.
Alhaji K. Tarawally is a distinguished young Sierra Leone who has established himself as a successful entertainment executive, an entrepreneur and media personality. He is the CEO of LAKE Productions (SL) Limited, leading event management, essential service provider, marketing, advertising multimedia production firm in Sierra Leone.
As a media mogul, Tarawally has successfully served some of the biggest media institutions in Sierra Leone in various capacities as a journalist to senior management staff for institutions such as Foundation Hirondelle/CTN, Premier Tok Radio, Premier News Newspaper, Star Radio, Standard-Times Newspaper, Total News Newspaper, Afri Radio and the African Young Voices Television (AYV-TV).
At the AYV, Tarawally serves as Head of Communications and Public Relations, and Coordinator of Internship, Volunteers, Industrial Experience Training, and Recruitment Programme. He is also the host of the popular TV show — ‘The GATEWAY’. He previously served as Head of Programme, Monitoring, and Quality Control at the AYV Media Empire for two years.
Tarawally is an entertainment executive and a towering figure in the entertainment industry of Sierra Leone, who over the past decade, has consistently been organizing the top entertainment shows and awards through his company, LAKE Productions. He is also a strong advocate for better reforms in the arts and creative industries for the betterment of all. He was the founding president of the Sierra Leone Radio DJ’s Association (SLeRaDA), now SLDJ’s Union (SLeDU).
Alhaji K. Tarawally holds a B. A (Honours) in Mass Communications and a Diploma in Peace and Conflict Resolution at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, plus a Certificate in Leadership and Entrepreneurship from the YALI Regional Leadership Center, GIMPA University in Accra, Ghana. He is currently pursuing his Master in International Relations and Diplomacy at the Schiller International University in Germany. Tarawally was a part-time lecturer at the LICCSAL Business College — teaching Broadcast Media, Multimedia, and Public Relations for over three years before going into politics.
He has contested for a parliamentary seat in Constituency 128 under the National Grand Coalition (NGC) in the 2018 General Elections in Sierra Leone.
He has also built a niche in sports, serving as organizing secretary of Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL). Tarawally was also doubling as the assistant General Secretary and Head of Marketing, Communication, and Public Relations for Mighty Blackpool Football Club, one of the most successful football clubs in Sierra Leone.
Tarawally is a recipient of multitudes of awards and recognitions across Sierra Leone and Africa including:
✔️Most Outstanding Entertainment Promoter in Sierra Leone — 2019 by National Youth Led Award;
✔️100 Most Influential Young Persons in West Africa by the Confederation of West Africa Youth Forum in Lagos, Nigeria in 2018;
✔️100 Most Inspiring Sierra Leoneans Award by the United Venture Corporation;
✔️2018 West Africa Young Leadership Award by CWAY/ECOWAS Youth received in Ghana;
✔️100 Most Influential Young Persons Award’, crowned as Youth Ambassador by the Ministry of Youths Affairs of Sierra Leone in 2018;
✔️Special Recognition Award by the National Youth Commission and FePyoCAN;
✔️2018 Honorary Media Personality Award by The Queenak-China Foundation Sierra Leone.
He was also awarded as the Youth Ambassador for the Confederation of West Africa Youths (CWAY) in 2019. Mr. Tarawally was profiled in the Sierra Youth and West Africa Youth Magazines as one of the 100 Most Influential Young Sierra Leoneans and West Africans in 2018.
Tarawally told this medium that he is happy for this recognition and assured that he will always make Sierra Leone proud.
