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Serve4Good Keeps Girls in School

Pupils of the Malimba Community School
Pupils of the Malimba Community School

Serve4Good has recently completed a pilot project geared towards providing clean water and menstrual hygiene for young girls in Sierra Leone.

The pilot project was designed to provide girls of Malimba Community School with what is dubbed: ‘She-Shelter’, girls-only cabin with running water and reusable underwear used during their menses. The project also sought to keep girls in school through the provision of WASH facility, improvement on hygiene and by extension foster education as absenteeism in school among girls remains a thorn in the flesh.

According to findings by Serve4Good, girls miss school for several reasons, including but not limited to fetching water from distance sources, falling ill from drinking contaminated water and lack of access to proper menstrual hygiene facilities. Girls therefore end up missing approximately 25 to 30% of schooling while their male counterparts do not experience such disadvantages.

In a snap interview with this medium, the Founder and Executive Director of Serve4Good, Ruben Chung, disclosed that Serve4Good is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) established in Switzerland. He furthered that he learnt more about water and hygiene in developing countries and particularly the challenges faced by young girls. He also disclosed that he came in contact with Malimba Community School through another Swiss NGO called Education Pour Tous Sierra Leone. Ruben furthered that he was able to conduct a survey to understand the felt needs of female pupils and that through that survey, he was able to figure out how young girls could avoid absenteeism in school by providing them a clean source of drinking water that will prevent them from getting diarrhea and other water borne diseases contracted from contaminated water, providing menstrual hygiene management measures, stressing that the ‘She-Shelter’ was borne out of that.

Ruben however, disclosed that he faced enormous challenges in securing funds for the project, pointing out that he initially tried it through his school friends and family members, but realized that it could take him a very long time to raise the requisite funds if he is to rely solely on those means. He furthered that he therefore did a research on grants offered in Switzerland for development projects and applied. Ruben further disclosed that he was fortunate to win several awards and grants for the first pilot project.

According to Ruben, he was confronted with another obstacle once he secured the funds as the Russia-Ukraine war affected global supply chain which saw his activities hang in the balance. He said the crisis posed numerous challenges to doing business across borders as Sierra Leone experienced acute shortage of petroleum products and therefore restrained some contractors from making long trips to the remote school site in the Port Loko District, Northwest Region of the country; and as such, the work was stalled for six months, though it is now almost completed for the school to start using the facilities.

Ruben Chung finally expressed satisfaction when he beheld a project he envisioned to positively impact lives of school children in Sierra Leone come to fruition as his project intervention will see girls spend more time in the classroom, thereby enhancing their success in society. The Executive Director of Serve4Good also disclosed that plans are underway for his organization to partner with a local NGO, Uman Tok in order to build more She-Shelters, improve education with addressing the threat of climate change a priority.

In a snap interview with The Calabash, a teacher at the Malimba Community School,  Foday Conteh waxed lyrical about Ruben, stressing that the young Swiss pupil and social worker has been a humble servant who always bends over backwards to ensure the happiness of others, adding that at a very young age he has already distinguished himself in society, through service, selflessness and other outstanding contributions that have positively impacted the lives of many kids in Sierra Leone.

Mr Conteh also noted that the headmaster of Malimba Community School together with community stakeholders is planning to offer a special certificate of thanks to Ruben for the project intervention as they considered it a step in the right direction.

One of the beneficiaries who pleaded anonymity expressed thanks and appreciation to Serve4Good for providing them the ‘She-Shelter and reusable menstrual kits and promised to focus on her education.

Speaking to The Calabash, the Executive Director of Uman Tok, Juliet Rhoman lavished praises on Ruben Chung whom she described as a high school pupil whose penchant for helping others cannot be overemphasized.

The Executive Director disclosed that Uman Tok is an NGO that provides reproductive health awareness and seeks to empower women and girls to discover their full potentials and self-esteem so as to make informed decisions and better contribute to their communities.

Mrs Rhoman stated that her organization is looking forward to partnering with Serve4Good to help in building more ‘She-Shelters’ in schools so that girls can have safe place for changing, especially during their menses.

FBC Students Hail Gento Kamara & Pledge Support

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

“I will get the job done with your support. I hope that you are ready to use the knowledge you have gained to make Freetown the best city in the world and I am appealing to you all to vote for me on June 24, 2023 because I am a builder and I fix things. I have what it takes to fix Freetown, the reason why I am contesting for the position of Mayor of Freetown Municipality.”

These words from the People’s Mayor of Freetown, Chief Mohamed Gento Kamara, which received thunderous applause from University of Sierra Leone – Fourah Bay College (USL-SL) students when the Mayoral candidate honored an invitation from the FBC Students Union. The event took place at the FBC Amphitheatre, Mount Aureol on Monday, 5th June, 2023.

Earlier, FBC SU President, Alfred Sesay, while giving the welcome address, described Gento Kamara as an asset to Sierra Leone. He outlined the numerous humanitarian and construction works the Mayoral candidate has embarked on for which he is highly commended. He cited several occasions when Gento Kamara, out of his own volition, contributed to the welfare of numerous students through provision of scholarships and other philanthropic gestures.

He used the opportunity to assure Gento Kamara and his wife who accompanied him to the event, Tuma Gento Kamara of their wholehearted support, adding that they too want to see a Freetown which can be compared to other 21st Century cities across the globe.

In his keynote address on the theme: THR ROLE OF STUDENTS IN FIXING FREETOWN, Gento Kamara started out by thanking them for inviting him and for the warm reception. He said he is always happy to come to FBC because he likes to interact with people who are tomorrow’s leaders. He maintained that he is also happy that throughout these years, despite the poor state of utility services that should be provided by the Freetown City Council, the students were able to pull through.

He went to say, however, he is disappointed that in five years, the past head of the FCC could not fix the water, sanitation and other problems plaguing Freetown. He noted, however, that when he is elected Mayor of Freetown on June 24, this year, he will fix all the perennial problems Freetown has been facing because he has the requisite knowledge, expertise and moral standing to do what he can to develop Freetown into an epic city.

Gento defined economics to the students as a means of using sparse resources to satisfy many wants, adding that in the case of practical economics, he would use the little resources resourcefully to solve Freetown’s myriad problems. He further defined social science as a relationship between scarce means and meaningful use of those scarce means.

He admitted that indeed Freetown is dirty but that with the collaboration of students, they would together fix the problems of Freetown. He said: “This is the time to fix Freetown. This is the time to make the change. To everything there is an alternative. I am that alternative because the one before me that wants to come again failed us woefully. I am here to fix Freetown.”

He informed the students that he has a track record of over twenty years serving as a builder and a philanthropist adding  how nothing is impossible unless you believe it is impossible and cited that when he initially opted to run for Mayor, he was told that he could not because of his tribe and the region he hails from.

“But let me tell you, Freetown belongs to all of us and not to just one tribe. Therefore, I am appealing to you to support me in fixing our noble and ancient city, Freetown,” the Mayor-in-waiting told the students.

He noted that before now, huge amounts of money were allocated to the FCC to clean the city and fix other things but that nothing was done and the money unaccounted for. He promised that there would be nothing like that in his administration.

Several other speakers made pertinent contributions, all adding accolades and giving assurances and endorsing Gento Kamara as the next Mayor of Freetown.

The climax of the event was the presentation of an award by the FBC Student Union. The citation on the prestigious award read: “This award is presented to Chief Mohamed Gento Kamara for all the Good woke na we beloved country.”

The students publicly promised that on June 24, 2023, they would cast their votes for him.

A question and answer session took place before the event came to a close.

NP’s Timeliness in Petroleum Importation Helps Greatly in Averting Shortages

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd)

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

It is now an established fact that the proactive stance of NP(SL)Ltd in timely importing petroleum products that will last over time has been greatly helpful, over the years, to avert periodic shortages taking place that will lead to serious socio-economic dislocations that could degenerate into chaotic and volatile situations that maybe very inimical to progress  and overall development.

There is not a single iota of doubt that NP(SL) Ltd is a premier oil marketing company that has been doing extremely well in the areas of importing and marketing various petroleum products in the country, notably petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants of which the most outstanding is Castrol oil.

Without contesting the undiluted fact, this 100% indigenous company has left its footprint on the sands of time as it continues to bag wide commendations for its timeliness in always ensuring that qualitative petroleum products are imported into the country, distributed country wide to its sales points or Filling Stations across the country in order for its esteemed customers to easily gain access to them.

The company has never renege in doing so save only certain situations where, as a result of unforeseen contingencies, most often beyond its control, there has been some delay. However, in such circumstances measures are quickly rolled out to address them and restore normalcy in the supply chain.

It must be noted that for any petroleum marketing company to maintain such a solid and unshakable posture could only be attributed to prudent business management initiatives. Indeed, it could be said with all amount of certainty that the selflessness and dogged determination on the part of the 35 Sierra Leoneans who established the company have greatly influenced most of the policies that were adopted, effectively implemented which saw the transformation of a small business enterprise to a towering entity.

One of those laid down policies is that which places premium on enhancing or maximizing customer care to create a situation where its customers are always made to feel good and satisfied. The company’s Shareholders and Management are also conscious of the fact that by taking customer care to a higher pedestal such could serve as a leeway to attract other individuals to come on board its customer platform.

Indeed, it is in that light that a conscious move was made to make the company’s Filling Stations very attractive and welcoming. Built in state of the art fashion, painted with yellow and green paints, these sales points are very spacious to accommodate fleet of vehicles, are very eye catchy and in some of them there are shopping marts where customers could purchase basic items and even relax to socialize. As of now social gathering in those marts has been put on hold as social distancing has been recommended as one of the preventive measures put in place to avoid the spread of the deadly virus.

To promote transparency and win the trust of its numerous customers as well as match up with international standards, it was decided on the part of the company to invest so much in procuring and installing calibrated pumping machines. These have the capacity to pump the exact quantity of fuel in vehicles and containers to the utmost satisfaction of buyers. “I always feel gratified whenever I do purchase petrol at NP Filling Station because I am always satisfied that I am getting my money’s worth,” a banker divulged to this medium adding that the Managers of the company are doing a fantastic job,referencing the orderliness of how business transactions are taking place.

One very striking feature which NP-SL has so far exhibited, to the admiration of many, is its strict adherence to the country’s Local Content Policy. Development Economists have recommended that one viable route to be used to boost a country’s economy is to make effective use of indigenous resources, both material and human, as long as they are available. Enhancing local content has its attendant merits one of which is creating employment opportunities and ensuring that monies paid workers are not remitted overseas.

The NP-Sierra Leone Limited is one of the few companies in this country that has successfully implemented its internal policy of giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans. This is indeed very impressive and is helping in major ways to reduce poverty.

If today NP Gas is going at the pace of the Concord, in terms of sales, then this is simply because it has been discovered that it is very fast, efficient and environmental friendly for cooking purposes. Besides, it can be refilled without going through the hassle of having to find gas elsewhere as the company markets gas alongside petrol, diesel and other lubricants. They are manufactured in different cylinder sizes and are easily accessible.

“NP Gas is my kitchen partner and I am finding it very cooperative. It is easy to handle and for me it poses no danger. I am therefore recommending it and for anyone to secure it there will be no regrets,” Mariatu Sesay a resident, living in Makeni recommended.

What is much talked about today, well not in social circles as social distancing is now the norm, is NP Smart Card. As the name suggests the card is so smart to such an extent that as long as it is loaded with money it can be slotted in the calibrated pumping machine and after demanding the amount of petrol or diesel requested for, it churns out the exact amount plus displaying the price. It is trending, secured and convenient to use.

“NP Smart Card works well and since I have been using it I always procure fuel for my car and generator in record time. Using it, there are many benefits one can derive,” a Civil Servant, Mohamed Jusu, underscored.

The company does not joke with rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility fully aware that it is incumbent on it as a business entity to give back to society. This is all the more reason why it has been complementing the Government’s development interventions. The Shareholders and Management have always stood by the side of Sierra Leoneans in thick and thin always endeavouring to give succour and deepen development. The good things it had done are so many to catalogue and time plus space could not permit one to narrate all of them.

“This shows that the company is a responsible business entity,” an official of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency commended.

The company stands tall for having vibrant branches operating in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where they are operating efficiently, offering jobs and paying taxes to Governments. NP-SL is indeed a force to reckon with and is poised to further make its presence felt and expand its operations.

Mohamed Gento Kamara Unveils “Freetown For We All” Manifesto

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The SLPP endorsed Mayoral aspirant of the Freetown City Council (FCC) , Mohamed Gento Kamara on the 3rd June, 2023 launched his Manifesto ,”Freetown For We All”, during an auspicious event held at the Conference Hall of the HUB Hotel at Wilberforce in the West End of Freetown and which was chaired by the former SLPP Member of Parliament, Hon. Tawa Conteh.

Present during the launch were his running mate, Rev Samuel Babatunde Thomas,  the Secretary General of the SLPP, Napoleon Koroma, Minister of Basic Education, Dr Moinina Sengeh, Adviser to President Julius Maada Bio, Ambassador Dr. Kona Koroma, Hon. Manso Dumbuya, Tuma Adama Gento Kamara, wife of Mohamed Gento Kamara, Gento’s mother, Hon Melrose Karminty, supporters and members of the Fourth Estate.

Setting the scene before the official launch, the Secretary General of SLPP, who is also the Deputy Minister of Justice, Napoleon Koroma intimated the rapt audience that in less than a month the country will go to the polls in multi tier elections. He said the individual that the party endorsed to contest for the FCC Mayoral position is Mohamed Gento Kamara.

The Secretary General furthered how it was not a mistake that the party did more especially as they know the pedigree of their aspiring candidate adding that the passion that has been exhibited by their candidate to transform Freetown speaks volumes about the plans he has mapped out to translate that into reality which he has encapsulated in his manifesto.

He underscored that the party has no doubt  that when Gento would have been elected as Mayor those plans will be implemented to positively impact lives and communities as well as usher in sustainable and meaningful changes that will bring Freetown up to speed in terms of modernization and availability of basic social amenities.

After the presentation of the Campaign Website by one David Manley, Madam Tuma Adama Gento Kamara introduced the keynote Speaker whom he said was born and bred in the East End of Freetown before going overseas where he pursued tertiary education.

She said Mohamed Gento Kamara is a Sierra Leonean entrepreneur, community organizer and politician who is the founder and owner of the Gento Group of Companies, a road construction firm with assets worth over $150 million.

According to her, he is also a prominent philanthropist, and has provided regular support and sponsorship to several charities and non-governmental initiatives.

She mentioned how her husband is also revered for his generosity and commitment to his community and his people who has donated millions of dollars to various charities and non-governmental initiatives in Sierra Leone.

“Gento’s philanthropy has helped to improve the lives of thousands of Sierra Leoneans and has made a significant impact on especially the lives of poor people across the country,” she disclosed continuing that in addition to his business and philanthropic work, Gento is also politician who is a member of the Sierra Leone People’s Party, and is running for Mayor of Freetown in the upcoming election.

According to her, Gento is passionate about serving his community and believes that he can make a difference in the lives of the people of Freetown.

She told the audience that Gento is a strong leader with a proven track record of success with  experience,  skills, and the vision to fix the problems of Freetown and lead Freetown into a brighter future.

She noted that her husband, Gento, is a grassroots man who is very passionate about helping the poor and needy and he has all what it takes to institute meaningful changes within the Freetown Metropolis ending by calling or appealing to all to give him the necessary support and by voting for him on the 24th June,2023.

In his keynote address, Mohamed Gento Kamara expressed gratitude to all those who took time out of busy schedules to grace the manifesto launching. He said it is emotionally touching to see Freetown, a capital city, in such a rundown state, lacking in vital basic amenities.

He told the audience how he is committed to fixing this city so that it works for all adding that his focus will be on providing clean water, sanitation services, and public spaces.

“We will enhance access to public services in a manner which appreciates the self-worth of all citizens,” he promised furthering how he will purposefully include those who have traditionally been marginalized and forgotten by society.

He said by cleaning the mess and creating order throughout the city such will enable everyone to rise and live in dignity, from East End to Aberdeen, from the Kekeh riders to the market sellers to the footballers to the fishermen to the tailors to the artists to the business executives.

Gento told all present that his Manifesto is simple , “ Let’s Fix Freetown and Create a Freetown for We All”. He said as Mayor he will be committed to fixing the city so that it works for all maintaining that his focus will be on providing clean water, sanitation services, job creation and public spaces including dignified health centres, marketplaces, and recreational facilities for all.

According to him,his administration will enhance access to public services in a manner which appreciates the self worth of all citizens saying he will purposely include those who have traditionally been marginalized and forgotten by society.

With regards sanitation, he said  his administration will bring back Sanitary Inspectors, identify garbage collection points , move the dumpsites from their current locations in the city to convenient sites. Gento stated that the garbage would be used to generate energy which could be used for other productive purposes.

He added that most of the markets in Freetown are not conducive and against that backdrop his administration will embark on rebuilding standard markets with all the basic amenities provided.

Gento informed the audience that part of his Manifesto has to do with providing job opportunities adding that in other situations micro credit will be made available and access to finance from Banks saying from time to time they will be having meetings with traders to know their strengths and weaknesses.

The Mayoral Aspirant said that he will be able to accomplish that through a Municipal Bond highlighting that he has a project in mind which he intends to implement that will employ up to about 15,000 individuals as well as provide the central Government with Five Hundred Million Dollars annually.

He disclosed another plan of collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to jointly manage public hospitals maintaining that by so doing most of the challenges within the sector would be overcome. Gento said by doing this health care will be greatly improved and made accessible.

Gento stated that translating all the aforementioned plans into reality is not as easy as it is been said stressing that he alone cannot achieve them as doing so needs collective action underscoring that with the total support and cooperation of Freetonians his fantastic plans will see the solid transformation of Freetown to become one of the best cities in the West African sub-region.

Other speakers made salient contributions.

Cowbell Embarks on Massive Milk Education on World Milk Day

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of efforts to raise awareness about the importance and benefits of milk consumption in the country, the Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd, a food distribution company that operates as an agent for Promasidor, a leading supplier of quality food products to more than 30 African countries, including Sierra Leone, from the 1st to 3rd June, 2023 joined the world to commemorate World Milk Day, which is an international day established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to recognize the importance of milk as a global food. It has been observed on June 1 every year since 2001.

During this year’s commemoration, the company embarked on massive milk education and sampling by availing actual and potential consumers of Cowbell the opportunity to enjoy good nutrition through cowbell milk at key points within the Freetown Municipality. This was executed by making available dry samples of cowbell powdered milk as well as wet samples of cowbell coffee and strawberry for commuters within the Freetown Municipality to enjoy. Major centers that the event took place were:   Shell Station, Ferry Terminal and Lumley.

In addition, ten (10) buses that commute within the East and West Ends of Freetown were branded cowbell and commuters surprised with a free sachet of cowbell.

Speaking on behalf of the company, the Marketing Lead of Premium Divine Trading Ltd, Ansu Charles, disclosed that World Milk Day is observed every year on the 1st June to recognize the importance of milk as a global affordable nutritious food, adding that the main objective of the day is to focus on increasing awareness about the benefits of milk as a nutritious product for consumption by all and sundry which he said was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2001.

He intimated that Premium Divine Trading, as a responsible company, thought it fit to embark upon this exercise in order to join the world in commemorating the day through massive education or awareness raising of the importance and benefits of milk within the Freetown Municipality, adding that during the process they educated thousands of commuters emphasizing the significance of consuming cowbell milk which he said is a rich source of protein, calcium and vitamins A, B, C, D  E and K otherwise referred to as Vitarich.

Ansu Charles furthered that they are doing a lot to promote the consumption of quality food products in the country adding that the move by the company is part of their efforts in raising awareness about the importance of milk in the country and it clearly shows that the company cares about the wellbeing of Sierra Leoneans.

He maintained that Cowbell products come in 14g sachet, 20g sachet, 360g sachet and 400g tins for the milks.  Also, cowbell food drinks package sizes are 40gs for the Coffee, Strawberry, Coconut, Choco-Malt and Cowbell Mocha and they are all produced in Ghana by Promasidor Ghana Limited for export sales to some West African countries including Sierra Leone.

The Marketing Lead added that the Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd also distributes and markets Onga, Miksi Chocolate and coffee drinks, Xploza, Kremela and Yumvita , the latter being an infant cereal with milk also containing wheat, rice and maize.

He revealed that they are the sole distributor of all the aforementioned products in the country.

Ansu Charles stated that as a company they can guarantee the availability of quality milk for consumption by everyone, adding that they are doing so to discourage the use of unsafe milk products on the market.

He concluded by encouraging all to go in for the company’s products especially the Cowbell Milk which he said is of high quality and
when consumed will definitely nourish the body as it has all the required nutrients needed by the body.

One of the beneficiaries, Fatmata Kargbo, a Petty Trader who benefited from the milk education and the sampling commended Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd for the laudable venture in reaching out to communities with milk education describing such as very important towards the development and growth of all.

She said that the Cowbell Coffee and Milk are very rich in nutrients and they contain all what the body needs for proper growth.

Fatmata Kargbo encouraged all to buy Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd products, stating that they will not regret as their products have the required nutrients and they are of high quality.

NP (SL) Ltd  Receives 22,000 Metric Tons of Diesel

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

NP(SL) Ltd  received the Hafnia Amethust vessel with 22,000 metric tons of diesel, approximately 25.6 million litres, on the 1st June, 2023 for nationwide supply.

With the arrival of this vessel at the NP Terminal, there has been an increase in the quantity of diesel in store for the daily acquisition of the product .

Customers can buy fuel at all NP dealer and reseller stations across the country without having to worry about scarcity or delay in acquiring any of  the company’s products as the priority is on ensuring constant supply of petroleum products throughout the country and in the sub-region.

With a goal of becoming the most reliable energy provider that assures quality customer service, NP (SL) Limited is keen on maintaining its dominant position in the petroleum market by going to the lengths and breadths of the globe to maintain seamless flow of products for all their esteemed customers.

It must be noted that whatever the time or weather and regardless of engine type or need,  NP (SL)Ltd  has got the petroleum needs of all covered.

NP (SL) Ltd is indeed a buoyant petroleum importing and marketing company that has earned respectability out of its frank and sincere care it takes in treating its esteemed customers right across the country. Taking customer care as very significant in nurturing healthy business relationships, that initiative which it has rolled out very well made the company very endearing to many which has well positioned it to become the leading oil marketing entity in the country. For now, NP (SL) Ltd imports the largest quantity of fuel, petrol and diesel, with a lots of advantages including averting the occurrence of shortages which in turn have the tendency of disrupting normal activities.

From time to time,well-meaning entrepreneurs continue to partner with NP-SL Ltd to open Filling Stations in different locations in-country even in hard to reach areas. Its Filling Stations are strategically located in order to avail the vast majority the opportunity to easily access petroleum products which are highly needed in order to conduct  certain meaningful business transactions.

The caring nature of the company for its customers is vividly evident in the pieces of advice it continues to give out to its customers and even taxi, Kekeh and Okada passengers wishing them safety whenever they are plying the roads.

Against such a backdrop, it should not be any surprise that the company is the proud recipient of the accolade 1st for Customer Care. This is no mean decoration but rather a true manifestation of the high level of appreciation that people continue to show for the qualitative products and services that the company markets to the general public.

Today, it is now non-existent for individuals to complain that when they are in the process of procuring petroleum products, pump attendants cheat them in terms of not getting their money’s worth.

The simple reason is because the Shareholders and Management of the company were indeed very business savvy to procure modern calibrated pumping machines which were installed at their various selling points and are very capable of churning out the exact quantity of what is demanded and the price to be paid.

During a random countrywide survey conducted over a period of time targeting a large percentage of customers of the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), with the avowed objective of sounding their views on the operations of the company in the country, the responses were positive.

When quizzed on how they view the way the company treats its numerous customers across the country, most of the respondents warmly reacted by stating that the Shareholders and Management of  the company are doing extremely well in the direction of effective service delivery and giving utmost satisfaction to customers.

Mohamed Bai Sesay, a renowned Social Commentator, maintained that when it comes to customer care, NP-SL Ltd is second to none within the business landscape of this country.

“From what I so far learnt in order to conduct sales in a very transparent manner and to give customers their money’s worth, the Shareholders of the company decided to procure and install modern calibrated pumping machines at their various Filling Stations that are capable to pump the exact quantity of fuel, at the same time display the price and quantity,” he pointed out, adding that to even think that the pump attendants are cheating customers could only be a mere figment of one’s imagination, as anything like that is farfetched.

A Development Specialist of long standing intimated that for the country’s economy to grow sustainably it is but important to deepen local content further arguing that it is only when we make meaningful use of both our human and natural resources that development could transpire.

“Instead of depending on the importation of certain consumable items and foreign expatriates, it is but very significant and cost effective to make use of what we have at hand to produce goods and services,” Abdulai Braima, an Economist averred, also stating that for NP-SL Ltd to make it a laid down policy and put into practice to offer employment exclusively to Sierra Leoneans is indeed laudable and no mean feat.

He further underscored that by offering jobs to Sierra Leoneans is a way of empowering the citizenry to take care of daily responsibilities and live improved standards of living.

“I really doff my hat to the Shareholders of the company for actualizing such a high sense of patriotism,” he expressed admiration.

A vast majority of those interviewed revealed that they are using NP Gas for cooking purpose, maintaining that it is very efficient and environmentally friendly. The NP Gas that they referred to is a cooking device which is manufactured in different cylinder sizes and sold at affordable prices at the company’s Filling Stations.

With regards the use of NP Smart Card, it is one that is now in vogue. Some personalities who are using it said they find it very useful and a convenient way of purchasing petroleum products. They added that they always ensure their NP Smart Cards are credited to be used to purchase fuel, be it petrol or diesel.

“Sometimes I don’t have to go through the hassle of going to the Bank on a busy Friday afternoon to withdraw cash just for the purpose of purchasing fuel that will last throughout the weekend. I do procure petrol by using my Smart Card and it is working perfectly well,” Musa Kalokoh, an Engineer told one of our reporters.

From all the positive responses, what really came out clearly and vividly was that NP-SL Ltd’s care for its numerous customers is synonymous with the loving care that a mother manifests to her offspring.

Orange SL Highlights the Role of the Media to its Successes

By Alpha Good Kamara

Orange Sierra Leone, on the 2nd June, 2023  updated  the media about the  successes and achievements that the company has achieved since it started operations  in the country during a programme that was held at the company’s Head Office on Hill Station in Freetown.

The keynote speaker, Bolor Sesay, thanked the media for the value they had given to Orange as an entity and also highlighted the role of the media to the success of Orange Sierra Leone’s business.

He said for Orange Sierra Leone the media has played an important role in building brand awareness, connecting them to their customers and also achieving business goals.

Bolor Sesay furthered that the media is important for promoting products and services to the public and that Orange relies heavily on different media channels to advertise their products and services; therefore, it is important to note that the brand awareness connecting to the customers and achieving business goals is one of the critical roles the media plays to Orange Sierra Leone.

According to him, the media has helped Orange Sierra Leone in dealing directly with its existing customers and addressing any issue they have, adding that customers can reach Orange through the different social platforms like Facebook and Twitter, adding that the company itself also uses its website and customer service hotlines to interact with customers and resolve their complaints in a timely manner.

He said through the media, Orange can now monitor customer sentiments and also gauge customer satisfaction on it products and services.

Bolor Sesay continued that the media also serves as a platform for Orange to promote its brand values and corporate initiatives, adding that Orange often partners with media to raise awareness on social causes that it supports such as financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and youth development programmes.

He said this publicity through the media has helped strengthen Orange’s reputation and brand image in the eyes of the public.

In summary he said the media has played a critical role in Orange Sierra Leone’s business by enabling marketing, advertising and facilitating customer services and boosting the company’s image and credibility.

He said a well thought out media strategy would be crucial for one to achieve its business goals for the years to come, adding that the company will continue to be with different media channels creatively and effectively to stay very firm and connect with customers.

Madam Danita, General Secretary, Orange Sierra Leone Limited stated that this is a symbolic event for Orange Sierra Leone because they recognized the significant effort of the media and also appreciate the commitment in bringing accurate, reliable and timely news to the general public about the company.

She said the dedication of the media to provide the most updated information and insightful analyses on a wide range of topics has been very critical for ensuring that the people of this country are well informed about Orange products and services and the positive impact they are making today in the society in which they operate.

Madam Danita said that as a company they recognize the critical role that the media plays in upholding the ideas on freedom of the press and keeping the public informed, adding that they value their partnership with the media and that they are committed to work with the media to ensure that news and events are accurately and fairly reported to the general public.

She said they understand that the work the media do require significant effort, time and resources, assuring the media that they respect the media’s dedication to their craft.

The General Secretary said as a company they are also committed to the media’s take on transparency and accountability, and they believe in open and honest communication with the public and the media, adding that they strive to provide timely and accurate information about their operations and events.

According to her, in this age of social media and fake news it is reassuring for Orange SL to know that they can still trust the media to provide them with unbiased and fact based reporting, adding that the relentlessness of the media coupled with the media’s unrevealing commitment to the principles of good journalism with integrity is a big hope for their company.

She said they also recognize that the media landscape is quickly evolving in reporting skills and they are committed to adapt to those changes in order for them to continue to partner with the media.

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, in his statement said Orange Sierra Leone and the media have come a long way, adding that there has been mutual respect and support.

He said the media knows that Orange has helped sustained it as it is going through difficult times adding that Orange and SLAJ have been very engaging especially when he was the Secretary General of SLAJ under former President Kelvin Lewis and Orange did numerous programmes with the media like the scholarship programme through which the company supported journalists to go to college and do their Master’s, adding that some were supported to do their PhD programmes.

Nasralla said Orange also helped children of journalists by paying their school fees at both junior and senior secondary school levels.

He said Orange supported in establishing the Welfare Fund under his leadership as President which is used to support public interest media and journalists in times of crises.

Orange also supports SLAJ for the election to give credible information to the public around the elections as they have a newsroom situated at the SLAJ office.

In his presentation, Head of PR/CSR, Kamal Abass said the Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Sekou Amadou Bah, joined the company in March 2022 with a strong ambition to invest and accelerate digital transformation, social and financial inclusion in Sierra Leone and to establish Orange as a trusted partner for economic development.

He said Mr Bah has worked in the Orange Group for over ten years and has a wealth of experience in the field of financial innovation management.

Kamal Abass said Orange has been present in Sierra Leone for only six years and yet it has already stamped its CSR footprints across the country with an ambition to drive socioeconomic development.

He said they launched the Orange Foundation under three pillars namely health, education and culture in the last five years and their total contribution has amounted to two hundred and eighty-four billion Leones(NLe284,000,000) and their CRS contribution amounted to seventeen billion Leones (NLe17,000,000).

According to him, their 2022 CSR brochure provides full report of their 2022 corporate and social activities ranging from their corporate contributions, environmental activities for green energy, building of additional early learning development centres, promotion of digital inclusion, community health project on maternal mortality and several other philanthropic activities related to meeting the socioeconomic needs of our society.

He said Orange Sierra Leone Limited is committed to protecting the environment and they acknowledge the potential environment impact that their operations may have on the environment.

Head of PR/CSR said the purpose of their environment programmes is to ensure reduction of their carbon footprint, environmental compliance and ensuring protection of the environment, adding that this applies to the Management, employees and all Orange Sierra Leone services and products.

IGR Predicts Women to Make Up 25% or 26% of MPs in Next Parliament

By Millicent Senava Mannah

The Institute for Governance Reform, Chief Executive Director, Andrew Lavali, has said that around 37 to 39 women including one female Paramount Chief MP will make up 25% to 26% of the next 149 MPs. He said this during the launch of his institution’s forecast of the Electoral Map in the country called the SierraPoll.

He made that disclosure on the 29th May, 2023 at the institution’s Conference Room, Off Spur Road in Freetown.

In his explanation, he said the SierraPoll combines survey data of registered voters with the party’s list of candidates across all 16 districts to assess how political parties will perform in each district and project the electoral map of the country for the 24th June, 2023 elections.

His survey showed that the country will not be able to achieve the 30% given to women in the Gender and Women’s Empowerment Act.

Giving an overview of the SierraPoll, Andrew Lavali, intimated that they asked voters which party , MP or Councillor they would vote for if elections were held tomorrow. “Base on this information we forecast the composition of the next Parliament,’’ he revealed.

He continued that such includes the percentage share of women in the House as well as the distribution of the 22 local councils among political parties and independent candidates.

Andrew Lavali maintained that when the survey results were compared with official district-level results in three election cycles over the last 20 years they see changes in voting patterns in both multi-ethnic communities in the North-Eastern areas of the country and party stronghold districts.

‘’SierraPoll conducts opinion polls to contribute to improving the quality and integrity of Sierra Leone’s electoral process, support political parties with reliable data to plan their campaigns, as well as help the electorate and interest groups to manage expectations as they plan for life after the election,’’ Andrew Lavali noted.

‘’We believe that the upcoming elections provide a good opportunity for Sierra Leone to deepen the cultural and civic norms around the usage of scientific polling data for informed decision-making,’’ he stated.

According to him, the survey shows a threshold of 11.9%, and how such makes it difficult for smaller parties and independent candidates to win seats stating effectively, this means that the 2023 election is essentially a two-horse race between the ruling SLPP and main opposition APC.

He noted that it is useful to note that accuracy of poll numbers is not only about correctly calling which party will win an election in a district, but how close the poll figures are to ECSL’s final election results.

Andrew Lavali stated that the survey reveals reduced support for the two smaller parties in Parliament, the NGC and the C4C, even in districts (Kambia and Kono) that they won in 2018. He  furthered how part of this could be explained by the leadership in both of these parties forming new alliances with other political parties in the lead up to the June 2023 elections.

According to him, it is possible that this has paved the way for their membership to return back to the two dominant parties they break away from in 2018.

Njala University Administration renames Faculty Building

The renaming of the Njala Campus Faculty Building by the Njala University Administration  on the 31st May, 2023 was done in honour of Professor John Abu Kamara, a former Principal of the then Njala University College (NUC).

Welcoming those in attendance, Professor Alieu Mohamed Bah, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Njala Campus, intimated how the occasion was organized to celebrate Professor John Abu Kamara’s commitment to duty and hard work underscoring that his contributions to the success of Njala University College and Njala Campus in particular are very impactful and leading to fruitful outcomes.

Professor Alieu M. Bah mentioned how he learned a lot from meeting Professor Kamara for the first time at his house, and he added that the ceremony will serve as motivation for top administrators by showing them that if they work hard they will be recognized.

On his part, Professor Mohamed Syed Fofanah, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Bo Campus and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Njala University, stated that the purpose of the ceremony was to honour Professor Kamara, who made a significant contribution to Njala University while serving as Principal of Njala University College.

“The celebration is especially cherished because it gives us a chance to consider the accomplishments of our retired academic grandfathers,” according to Professor Mohamed Syed Fofanah, who noted that Prof. Kamara is an example of discipline, compassion and consistency.

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma, remembered the learned Professor of Veterinary Medicine as a highly esteemed scholar and administrator. He recalled that Professor Abu Kamara, as Head of the Animal Science Department, was responsible for enabling the Department to be a producer of eggs for sale across the nation. “A glory I have maintained since assuming office,” VC&P mentioned.

Professor Bahiru Mohamed Koroma recalled some of Professor Kamara’s noteworthy accomplishments as Principal, including the establishment of the hospitality vote for Principals, Registrars, and Finance Directors as a means of saving the University College. Professor Kamara also placed a lot of emphasis on the Animal Science Department, making APD the centre of egg production and sales in Sierra Leone.

“This is the reason why my Administration has decided to gainfully revitalize this goodwill in our tenure. As we speak, if you visit the Animal Science Department, if nothing is there, but poultry is thriving even today,” Professor Koroma assured.

According to him, Professor Kamara had the vision to build Njala to the admiration of Sierra Leoneans and beyond during his ten years as Principal. He also said that during that time, he used his connections to find partners and donors who would give the college the funds it needed.

“With his prudent skills, he managed to save significant amount of money in separate accounts, which his successor, Dr. E.T. Bangura, utilized to construct the Faculty Building and the Auditorium, which we are renaming today. As a result, making him an example to follow is wise,” asserted Professor Koroma.

The citation for the renaming of the Faculty Building reads:

Today is quite a remarkable day in the history of Njala University as we recognize and honour one of the architects of this edifice which we have referred to as the Faculty Building for the past 32 years. Officially opened in 1991, this magnificent building has stood the test of times as one of the iconic buildings on campus that resisted the brutal attack of the eleven-year rebel war. This building stood as a giant in the midst of one of the most destructive wars in living memory, and many generations of students have used and sometimes misused it.

Today’s occasion marks an important milestone in the history of this University as the Administration after thoughtful consideration, and with the approval of the University Court, at its meeting on 23rd March 2022 unanimously endorsed the proposal of administration to name this building after one of the Principals of the then Njala University College whose footprints are still visible around our campus.

In 1976, Professor John Abu Kamara was appointed Principal of Njala University College, a position he held with distinction for ten remarkable years. Professor John A. Kamara left an indelible impact on Njala University during his tenure and even after his retirement. He served as the catalyst for expanding and beautifying Njala University. It was during his tenure that work on the construction of the Faculty Building fully took off.

Professor Saidu Challay, the University’s Public Orator, mentioned that Professor Kamara’s legacy will be having an enduring significance for all who walk around our campus, adding that his name will matter here because names matter a great deal according to our understanding of history, and our understanding of history, he went on, also matters to how we understand ourselves and our community.

Dr. John Kamara accepted the award on his father’s behalf and thanked the University Administration for keeping in mind all of the sacrifices his father made for the institution. He conveyed his father’s  sincere gratitude for the honour. Dr. Kamara reassured the Administration of the University that their family will continue to support the growth of Njala University.

HRCSL Trains 170 Staff on Human Rights & Election Monitoring

With funding from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a total of 170 Staff, Interns and Volunteers of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) and the District Human Rights Committees (DHRCs) from the 16 Districts in the country on the 30th May, 2023 benefitted from a training programme focused on “Human Rights and Election Monitoring” held in the Conference Hall of the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) on Kingharman Road in Freetown in preparation for the forthcoming elections.

This medium was well informed that the rationale for conducting the training was to build advocacy and monitoring skills in the participants in order to monitor human rights issues during the elections, ensure that the staff of the Commission and DHRCs are able to identify their roles so that they can mitigate violence during elections and for the Commission to positively influence the entirety of the citizenry in the process.

Vice-Chairman of HRCSL, Victor Idrissa Lansana emphasized the role of the Commission in moments like these. He particularly highlighted some of the responsibilities of the Commission which includes the monitoring of human rights violations, documentation of same and taking the necessary measures to addressing those violations.

“We are three weeks away to the June 24th elections and it is very pertinent for us to be really central in the process. As an independent institution, we have the obligation to ensure that we put out very credible information about the elections. We had already started monitoring the electioneering process well before now,” he said.

The Vice Chairperson alluded to the fact that it was important for staff and DHRCs to understand the dos and don’ts of the electioneering process and the ethics to incorporate them when going out to the field to monitor so that the Commission can put out a credible report that will indicate the Commission’s informed position on the elections.

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