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Orange & German Development Cooperation Inaugurate 14th Orange Digital Center

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a Press Release dated 10th February, 2023 it was disclosed that Orange and the German Development Cooperation have inaugurated the 14th “Orange Digital Center (ODC)”, in Sierra Leone, a digital ecosystem that is entirely dedicated to the development of digital skills and innovation.

Said to be in attendance were Governmental and regulatory authorities in Sierra Leone, the German Ambassador, members of the Board of Orange Sierra Leone and Orange Foundation, representatives of Sonatel and Orange Middle East and Africa and the Executive Committee members of Orange Sierra Leone and the GIZ Country Director for Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

Stated was that it is in Sierra Leone that the 14th Orange Digital Center in Africa and the Middle East has been inaugurated following in the footsteps of Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Madagascar, Morocco, Liberia, Botswana and Guinea.

It was mentioned that having a floor space spreading over 500 sq. m, the ODC will provide four strategic programs of the Orange group and in partnership with the German Development Cooperation, namely: A coding school, a solidarity Fab Lab – one of the Orange Foundation’s digital manufacturing workshops, an Orange Fab start-up accelerator and the Orange Ventures Middle East and Africa (the investment fund of Orange Group that invests in the most talented startups of Orange Digital Center).

Also revealed was that all programs of the ODC are provided free-of charge and open to everyone and include a variety of digital training for young people, guidance to address project bearers, start-up acceleration and 90% of all the trainings are practical.

The Orange Digital Centers are said to be  working as a network, allowing experiences and expertise to be shared between countries and offer a simple and inclusive approach to improve young people’s employability, encourage innovative entrepreneurship and promote the local digital ecosystem.

Stated how it was officially inaugurated, the Orange Digital Center in Sierra Leone is said to be fully operational and equipped to host several digital trainings and events.

Also included was that, in addition, Orange Sierra Leone, in partnership with universities, will be training students for free and rolling out Orange Digital Center Clubs and extending the Orange Digital Center within some universities in the regions.

It was highlighted that in such a way, it will complement the education system to give as many people as possible access to new technologies and support them in using those technologies to their full extent.

Orange and the German Development Cooperation, it was mentioned, are working together as part of a development partnership within the develoPPP program, which the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The goal, highlighted in the Press Release, is to fulfill their shared vision, fostering youth employability while supporting sustainable growth and the country’s digital transformation. The program is also said to be working to advance gender equality and inclusion by promoting access for women and girls to ICT jobs.

The initiative, it was stated, is fully in line with their commitment as a responsible operator and focuses on the following sustainable development goals: (SDG 4) quality education, (SDG 5) gender equality, (SDG 8) decent work and economic growth, (SDG 9) industry, innovation, and infrastructure, (SDG 10) reduced inequalities and (SDG 17) partnerships for goals.

On his part, Brelotte Ba, Deputy CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa stated: “I am honored to be present for the launch of our 14th Orange Digital Center today in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which is part of a network of 32 Orange Digital Centers that will be deployed not only in Africa and the Middle East, but also in Europe by 2023. The objective is to democratize access to digital technology for young people – with or without qualifications. We want them to be part of the digital transformation of their country by encouraging them to become digital entrepreneurs, to create local content and thus develop the digital economy of Sierra Leone.”

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Jens Kraus-Massé, noted: “I am delighted to see that our cooperation with Orange contributes to realizing the vision of a digital, innovative and resilient future of Sierra Leone and its people. Our aim is to empower every woman, every girl, every man, and every boy no matter from what background, to take advantage of the opportunities of digitalisation, to get better jobs and eventually better lives for them and their families. Therefore, I am glad that our cooperation with Orange works to this end.”

Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Sekou Amadou Bah says: “We are proud to inaugurate the first Digital Center of its kind in the country. The Orange Digital Center will provide state-of-the-art facilities with free access for all, reinforcing our strong ambition to democratize digital access for young people, especially women, with or without diplomas, to encourage them to pursue their venture into digital entrepreneurship and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. More than 1600 young people were already trained at the center with 52% of women in just one year of activity. Everything we need to see Sierra Leonean digital champions emerge tomorrow.”

 

NP-SL is an Outstanding & Widely Patronized Oil Marketing Entity

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

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The most outstanding and widely recognized petroleum marketing company in this country that is doing tremendously well within the business landscape of this country is indisputably NP-SL Ltd. The company has gained both internal and international recognition for its efficient service delivery to its many esteemed customers. It is therefore no big surprise for the well-established company to be bagging commendations, accolades and awards from reputable institutions in and out of the country.

One thing which has made NP-SL Ltd to stand tall among other entities hinges on putting premium on effective customer care delivery. The company is highly distinguished for being 1st for Customer Care, as it strives to give optimal satisfaction to its esteemed customers right across the country. In all its petroleum transactions the company does so transparently as it has modern calibrated machines at all its Filling Stations which are highly capable of pumping and displaying the exact quantity of fuel demanded for, be it petrol or diesel, as well as the price. This gives buyers the feeling that they are not cheated when purchasing fuel.

In the same direction, the company contracts good, up and running tanker vehicles which transport fuel from the fuel depot to the various Filling Stations everywhere in the country. Maintenance is always done on these vehicles to ensure that they are road worthy; something which the Management of the company takes very serious. The importance of regularly doing so is to really ensure that petroleum products are timely delivered to various parts of the country in order to prevent the occurrence of any form of shortage that may affect daily activities and lives.

A company that was established by thirty-five (35) Sierra Leoneans years back, it was made a laid down policy by the Shareholders and Management of the company that special preference must be given to indigenes who have the requisite qualifications in terms of job opportunities.

Interestingly, this decision is in tandem with the country’s Local Content Policy which aims at making use of our local resources, both human and material, instead of depending on external resources. This has made it possible for indigenes, who were hitherto unemployed, to now be gainfully employed and be at vantage positions to take care of individual responsibilities. With all amount of justification it could be said that NP-SL is a very caring business entity.

The company has set the pace of expanding its operations in the West African sub-region by establishing branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and the Gambia where they are effectively marketing petroleum products. By doing so it is providing job opportunities for locals in those countries and by extension regularly paying taxes to the Governments of those countries which are used to fund different development projects.

This bold step undertaken by the company is a mark of a company a serious entity that is taking business to a higher pedestal.

NP-SL is very notable for making available NP Smart Card and introducing NP Gas. In this modern age when efforts are being made to operate cashless societies and going digital there is no other moment than this when transactions in petroleum products should not follow suit. With the NP Smart Card, a particular customer could purchase fuel via using the card, just stating the quantity required which is debited from the amount in the card.

The customer can credit it again in order to make future purchases. The biggest advantage is that a customer can properly schedule or budget for the amount of fuel he or she will need over time, meaning that he or she has saved the headache of having to raise cash for the sole purpose of fuelling his or her vehicle. Using the card makes it less time consuming to buy fuel and prevents the movement of physical cash which maybe a customer could use for another emerging need or the cash could be stolen. NP Smart Card is now trending and many are now going for it.

With NP Gas, the cooking needs of individuals are easily solved as it is quick in terms of performance as a cooker. Environmentalists have validated its safety in terms of less emission of dangerous gases and it is manufactured in different cylinder sizes, very portable and easily refilled by purchasing gas at the company’s Filling Stations or its authorized dealers.

With all amount of justification, NP-SL is a thriving company among the myriad challenges it is surmounting. The company is indeed a true development partner that is positively contributing to the socio-economic development of individuals, entities and the country as a whole.

 

 

Tourism Ministry Expresses Determination to Revive Cultural Village Project

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Dr. Memunatu Pratt as Minister has been widely commended as one that has been doing exceptionally well in revamping the  tourism sector by working hard to transform it in order to become a formidable and viable game changer in rebranding the country’s image as well as positively contributing to revenue generation, job creation among many other advantages it offers.

Since her appointment by President Julius Maada Bio to head that Ministry, Dr Memunatu Pratt as Minister, in collaboration with the General Manager of one of the agencies of the Ministry, the National Tourist Board, Fatmata Carew, has done tremendously well in transforming what was once considered to be a moribund entity by bringing it up to an appreciable standard that has now gained the admiration as well as confidence of donors and other relevant stakeholders in and out of the country.

After her appointment, Dr Memunatu Pratt inherited a project geared towards the establishment of a Cultural Village, in one of the outskirts of the city, meant primarily for showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage.

According to an erroneous account, it was stated that the implementation of a Cultural Village Project was funded by the current political administration headed by President Bio up to the tune of Le1.3 Million but, lamentably and regrettably, nothing solidly tangible transpired since then further alleging that the Project is now a Ghost Village with nothing to show for it. Simply put, it turns out to be a ghost project after the funds were squandered.

When this medium went into action in order to delve or focus deeper into the issue or allegation made against the Ministry, especially when it was categorically stated that the Project did not move an inch under the watch of the current Minister, Dr Memunatu Pratt, the new revelations and evidences that emerged or were came across speak volumes of why up to date the Cultural Village Project has not transpired or materialized.

It was clearly understood and realized that the initiative of establishing a Cultural Village emanated from the era of the erstwhile APC led Government and it was during that same period that the Project was initiated and funds provided to finance its implementation.

It must be noted or underscored that the current Minister of Tourism, Dr Memunatu Pratt, was not part of it and maybe she was not even dreaming of becoming a Minister at that material time until she was appointed by President Julius Maada Bio.

However, after her appointment as Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr Memunatu Pratt and other officials of the Ministry, thought it fit that the Cultural Village Project will be very key or instrumental in revitalizing the tourism sector especially in promoting as well as preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage.

In that regard they put together a request that called on the Government and partners to revive Project which they designed to be operated as a skills training hub for the creatives. From what this medium learnt, donors have committed to support its implementation although from that time to now funds are yet to be provided for such to take place.

During the course of the investigation it was also learnt that currently most of the items meant for the implementation of the Project have been stolen and vandalised after the previous APC led Government decided to locate affected persons of Regent mudslide incident where the Cultural Village could have been located.

Although the mudslide victims are no longer residing there, however, before they left they vandalized and looted anything of value. Some of the items were stolen, the facilities destroyed but fortunately some of the items were secured and kept by the Ministry of Tourism, under its current Minister at the Ministry of Works until such a time when they may be needed.

As the situation now stands the Cultural Village Project is presently on hold and according to assurances by the Minister whenever funds are made available implementation of the Project will commence.

The mere fact that the Ministry, under the stewardship of Dr. Memunatu Pratt, decided to provide a safe haven for some of the items is a pointer to how committed she is to see that a Cultural Village is created to achieve the objectives for which it was established.

From what many have attested to if only Dr Memunatu Pratt was the Minister at the material time when the Project was conceived then this country would have been boasting of having a vibrant Cultural Village cum Skills Training Centre by now that will be catering for creatives in addition to the other commendable implemented Projects that fall under the Ministry’s purview.

 

 

Director of Corporate Affairs Dilates on SLCB @50 Celebrations

It is often said that a great leader, they say, always takes people where they want to go and also leads in innovation and creativity. It is this strong leadership that has taken the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SCB) to the pinnacle of the banking world. But behind the success stories of SLCB are shrewd and dedicated officials who work day in, day out to make things happen.

Victor Biandoma is considered to be one of the brains behind catapulting the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank to be one of most efficient and reliable banks that is operating in Sierra Leone.

One of them is the quintessential legal luminary and Director, Victor Biandoma, who is the Company Secretary and Director of Corporate Affairs.

Since he took over as Company Secretary and Director of Corporate Affairs at SLCB, Victor Biandoma has not only done exemplarily well in his duties, he has also become a popular personality being cherished among both senior and junior staff, as well as customers who hold him to high esteem for his corporate planning and strategies that have taken the Bank to its right direction. As a dedicated and resilient Director, Victor Biandoma would do whatever he could to ensure the SLCB remains at the pinnacle of commercial banking in Sierra Leone and even beyond.

In a snap interview with Director Victor Biandoma, he stated that the aim of the Bank is to maintain standards and to satisfy customers as their utmost priority.

He appealed to every Sierra Leonean to open an account with the Bank which he said is 100% owned by the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), noting that every citizen should be proud of opening an account with the Bank as a result of its indigenousness.

According to the Director, “If SLCB makes profit, the profit will go directly to the people of Sierra Leone; unlike other commercial banks, when they make profits they remit them to other countries.”

He reiterated that the SLCB is for the people of Sierra Leone and the people’s Bank, adding that they are celebrating the successes of the Bank and doing all their best to ensure they remain at the pinnacle of financial market in the country.

Contrary to some media reports aimed at blackmailing the Bank, Director Biandoma assured the nation and their esteem customers that the Bank is on good financial footing and customers’ monies are safe and well protected. He added that the Managing Director of SLCB, Yusufu Abdul Silla is very proactive and works assiduously to ensure the Bank maintains standards.

The Director also informed that the Audit Report which some quarters of the media are publishing to blackmail the Bank was not in the tenure of the current Managing Director, noting that the Audit Report was addressed by the Bank prior to the appointment of the current Managing Director.

He emphasized that the Managing Director is very focused and mindful of taking the Bank in the right direction and that every staff is extremely happy about the professional manner in which the Managing Director is running the Bank.

SLCB is at present celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a lot of activities that will attract the general public, especially its esteem customers.

Meanwhile, the Bank has just unveiled a Fame Plaque and launched the 50th Anniversary Celebrations in grand style.

 

Peace Commission Cautions Political Parties

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

In a Press Release issued by the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) it was stated that the entity has been closely monitoring the activities of all political parties in Sierra Leone, particularly lower-level executive elections that lead to National Delegate Conferences.

It continued that the most recent of those political party activities was the Sierra Leone Peoples Party’s (SLPP) 13th National Delegate Conference, which was held in Freetown on February 9th and 10th, 2023.

The Commission furthered how it wishes to inform the general public that it witnessed the events of last week’s event and was pleased with the SLPP’s leadership and general membership’s peaceful demeanour.

According to the ICPNC, such is a good sign that, as a Commission tasked with maintaining peace and bringing the country together, their advocacy is producing positive results. The Commission is therefore encouraging all other political parties to follow that excellent example in their party activities leading up to their National Conferences.

On another angle ,the Peace Commission stated that it is aware of the possibility of intra-party conflict, particularly during such events stating that, however, all political parties are encouraged to put robust measures in place to prevent  differences from escalating into violent conflicts that threaten national peace and security.

The ICPNC maintained that Sierra Leone is currently the most peaceful country in the Mano River Basin as well as among the most peaceful countries in the sub-region, the African continent, and the world.

It underscored that we got to that point and gained global recognition thanks to the combined efforts of all Sierra Leoneans and so it is, therefore, incumbent upon all as a nation to preserve the hard-won peace as we strive to reach new heights and become the most peaceful country in Africa.

 

Koidu Limited Honours Agreement With Communities

The total sum of NLe1, 559, 732, 19 was paid on Friday 10th February, 2023 by Koidu Limited as surface rent to beneficiaries of the land on which the company is carrying out their mining activities in Kono District.

The rent is cascaded to include the following beneficiaries: to the Constituency Development Fund, Koidu Limited allocated 10% which is equivalent to NLe155, 973.22; Koidu District Council was allotted 5%, which translates to NLe77, 986.61; to the Koidu New Sembehun Council was allotted 10%, equalling NLe155, 973.22.

The surface rent paid by Koidu Limited also impacted PC Paul N. Saquee V, who received 15%, equivalent to NLe233,959.83; to the Tankoro Chiefdom was given 10% of the allotted funds, which equalled the sum of NLe155,973.22 and; ending with the Tankoro Administration – Land Owning Families, that received 50% of the rent, totalling NLe779,866.09, for a grand total of NLe1,559,732.19.

This annual payment of surface rent by Koidu Limited, according to Mr Turay, Head of Corporate Affairs, is pursuant to not only the mining laws of Sierra Leone but also to international best practice relative to empowering communities where mining interest operate to encourage sustainable development in these localities.

The beneficiaries we spoke to were very pleased with Koidu Limited and say the company continues to inhabit a very special place in their hearts as the company always comes out on time to pay their surface rent. They hope this will continue and other mining interests will follow suit.

To Salvage Economic Crisis APC Frontrunner Urges Unity & Collaboration

By Sheriff Mahmud Ismail

On Sunday, February 12, at the APC Northern Region headquarter in Makeni, Dr Samura Kamara formally declared his intent to lead the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC). In addition to the frenzied euphoria of electoral victory for candidate and party, there’s a certain feeling of impatience among ordinary people and an urgency towards the general elections. The message was clear; the country has suffered unprecedented good governance and economic reversals and the main opposition, which has endured tremendous suppression and persecution, is rebounding and poised to take power in a way no one imagined. The negative economic indices and their real effect of biting hardship appear to have inspired a sheer determination and doggedness by the rank and file of the APC. Former Ministers, Members of Parliament and Councillors past and present, leaders and members of other political parties graced the occasion in such huge numbers that the event looked like a party convention. Newly elected officials from the various districts and regions, who would eventually become delegates to vote (at the NDC), attended along with busloads of supporters and with all manner of banners endorsing Kamara’s candidature.

Kamara led the APC into the polls in March 2018 after a selection process which some of his ‘challengers’ were unhappy with. Owing to that fallout, the APC has put itself through a period of agitation, litigation and reforms, resulting in a new constitution and ‘Court Ordered’ conventions. It is through those rigorously conducted conventions that the new crop of leaders was elected at the levels of the Ward, Constituency, District, Regional, and ‘Special Organs’. Those elections laid the basis for the Party’s National Delegates’ Conference (NDC), slated for next week, where its ‘national officers’ and the party’s standard bearer will be elected.

So far, no less than six aspirants have declared for the leadership of the APC. This indicates that despite his incumbency, Samura Kamara is up against an internal opposition that could not be ignored. This fact is not lost on the man widely presumed to once again emerge as leader of the main opposition. Kamara’s declaration past Sunday was a clear demonstration of strength of support but critically also, of readiness to lead both in terms of the content of his address and the deftness in the way the event was organized. This comes on the back of the incumbent Sierra Leone’s Peoples Party (SLPP)’s desperation for re-election. The President Maada Bio – led SLPP Government has explored every tactic in voter suppression and in its fierce persecution of the APC and its leaders. Even the APC ordinary supporters have not been spared of the intimidation, harassment, detention, confiscation of their small businesses and destruction of their livelihoods. Not surprisingly, Samura Kamara’s message emphasized on internal party reconciliation, peace, unity and collaboration as the only path through which the APC could unseat the ruling SLPP.

“…We should be responsive to the urgent need for a united and focused APC… to effectively hold this government accountable and (to) win the 2023 elections,” he said. Kamara also made the point that “there could be no unity in the APC without genuine reconciliation and understanding that put the party’s interest above all other considerations.”. In an apparent reference to his competitors, he urged for collaboration in the overall interest of the APC. “We are on the verge of the NDC, so it is imperative that we put personal ego aside and walk the APC to State House.”

Without a doubt, the major issue for these elections is the cost-of-living crisis which imposes the need for proven experienced leadership able to effectively handle the Sierra Leone’s desperate economic situation. There appears to be a consensus among Sierra Leoneans that the nation cannot afford another five years of the current economic failure -a day added to the misery of the SLPP tenure will be a disaster for the suffering massess! No one could be more aware of this reality than the man who has bestridden the economic landscape of Sierra Leone for over three decades. Apart from his earlier middle level roles in the Bank of Sierra Leone in the early 80s; between 1990 and 2014, he served as Sierra Leone’s Financial Secretary, Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone and as Minister of the Finance and Economic Development. During this period, he led several economic reforms and tax initiatives, including the establishment of revenue generating institutions such the National Revenue Authority (NRA), the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT). The presumptive APC presidential candidate was also integral to the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) II and spearheaded the PRSP III. His leadership of the nation’s economy has been credited for the stability and growth of a wide range of macro -economic fundamentals.

However, Kamara’s reading of the current governance and economic situation is damning. “…the Bio-led Sierra Leone Peoples Party Government is leaving behind most of our institutions and infrastructure in a terrible state of decay and shame; there is increasing insecurity and the quality of life of the vast majority of our people has considerably deteriorated; our collective image and national esteem has plummeted whilst the economy has sunk rapidly into vicious depth due to incompetence and mismanagement,” he said.

But it was not more so what he said than what he did not say. In a power point presentation titled, “Sierra Leone -Macroeconomic Performance (2008 -2022),” which was shared during his declaration event, Samura Kamara backed up his assessment of the economy with the figures which laid bare the magnitude of the economic crisis facing Sierra Leone.

  • Real GDP growth declined from 3.8% (2017) to 2.8(2022)
  • CPI Inflation rose 15.3% (2017) to 37.1 (2à22)
  • Expenditure increased from (6.4 trillion or 23.5% of GDP to 12.5 trillion or 28.4% of GDP (2021)
  • In 2022, total expenditure amounted to 13.7 trillion nominal terms (25%.8) of GDP
  • The Wage Bill increased from Le 1.89 trillion (6.9% of GDP) in 2017 to 4.3 trillion (8.1% of GDP) in 2022
  • Public Debt Stock to GDP increased from 69% (2017) to over 90% (2022) bringing the economy into a risk of debt distress due to increased domestic borrowing which putting the economy on the brink of actual debt distress
  • Total public debt is equivalent to over USD3.0 billion as at end 2022
  • Exchange Rate (Leone to the US Dollar) unprecedented depreciation of the Leone from 2017 to 2022 stands at 147%.

 

And he did not just criticise, he offered assurances that he was ready to take and build back the country, unite its people and move speedily to alleviate the suffering of the masses by salvaging the economy which he said had collapsed under the current SLPP leadership. To achieve this, Kamara acknowledged good governance, together with accountability and probity, as fundamental requirements. He also expressed the view that there is a need to bring about a fair, just, secure and orderly management of public affairs in such a way that the rule of law is upheld and that institutions could work in accordance with their mandates.

“We will effectively support public institutions to be better able to institutionalise democracy and the rule of law, and shall build a public service that is fit for purpose…. There is a need to build a country where if you show up, step up, work hard, you will have you fair share of its wealth; a country in which hard work pays, and cutting corners does not. A country in which no matter the tribe or where you come from, you will be rewarded based on merit, not on whom you know; a country in which every young person can hope, and aspire, and reach his or her full potential right here in Sierra Leone.”

The presumptive APC presidential candidate urged his party and the country to make informed choices on polling day. “We must make a choice for growth, for prosperity, for democratic freedoms, and for national cohesion. We must make a choice for competence and for sympathetic leadership. We must make a choice for a leader that understands the challenges our nation is facing and has the experience and proven track record to lead the design and delivery of the solutions to those challenges…,” he said.

In the 2018 elections, the APC hemorrhaged considerable support particularly in Kambia in the Northeast and in Kono in the East owing to Kandeh Yumkella’s National Grand Coalition (NGC) and former APC Vice President ,Samuel Sumana’s Coalition For Change (C4C). Both parties have lost their vibrancy and are largely in disarray. The upcoming elections in June 24 will therefore be a stiffly contested two-horse race between the main opposition APC and the incumbent SLPP. Public opinion may be on the side of the opposition but beyond the fanfare and the public endorsements, there is evidence of voter suppression and an uncanny use of the security forces in of favour of the ruling party.  Electoral victory for the APC would therefore be assured only if its leaders work together, if it organized itself very well in a way that it could protect its votes and ensure every ballot counts.

Confucius Institute USL Holds 1stChinese and Sierra Leonean Food Festival 

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Confucius Institute, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone has on Saturday 11th February 2023 held its first Annual Chinese and Sierra Leonean Food Festival. The event was held at Taiji Garden, Fourah Bay College in Freetown.

The event was supported by the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, Grand Leone Casino and Gansu Construction Investment (Holdings) Group Company Limited.

In her statement, the Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College, Professor Jing Man, said China is known to the world for many things, and food is one of them of which she added that Chinese food culture has a long history with thousands of years.

She said that due to China’s vast territory, vast land and abundant resources, there are differences in climate, products, and customs in different regions. For a long time, many flavors have been formed in the diet and they used posters to introduce the eight major cuisines of traditional Chinese cuisine, noting that Sierra Leone also has a lot of distinctive cuisines, such as ‘Fofo’, ‘kasawa’, ‘kanyan’, ‘fishball’ and so on.

“We have presented dozens of well-prepared Chinese delicacies and Sierra Leone delicacies for everyone, and we are here today to give you a real treat. There are also professional Chinese chefs in person to show you traditional Chinese delicacies-beef ramen and Peking roasted duck. We can also experience the fun of making dumplings, making glutinous riceballs and making Gari,” she revealed.

She said Chinese food culture pays attention to the differences of the four seasons, beauty, and Chinese medicine homologous food and that during the event they were able to taste the most authentic Chinese and Sierra delicacies in Sierra Leone, which marks the influence of China in the global food culture and reflects the good interaction of cultural exchanges between China and Sierra Leone.

“We hope to tell Chinese stories well with food, build a bridge of friendship between China and Sierra Leone, and let more Sierra Leonean friends perceive the charm of Chinese food and the unique charm of Chinese culture,” she concluded.

On his part, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E Wang Qing said that the first China-Sierra Leone Food Festival provides a new platform for them to get a taste of Chinese and Sierra Leonean culture and promote China-Sierra Leone friendship.

He expressed appreciation to the Confucius Institute for their efforts to promote the Chinese culture to their Sierra Leonean friends.

“There is a saying, you are what you eat. To understand the culture of a country, you start with food. China is a country with a huge population and huge diversity. Chinese food is rich in variety, which reflects the colorful life of the Chinese people,” he informed.

He said that he is glad to have the opportunity to taste some Sierra Leonean food  such as foofoo, casawa, kanyan and that by tasting them they will get better understanding of the lifestyle and traditional culture of the people of Sierra Leone, adding that recently, the Chinese Government adjusted its COVID-19 prevention policy, which will further facilitate the exchanges of people between China and other countries.

He said, “I hope that with the adjustment of policy there will be more and more exchanges between our two countries, make more people have the opportunity to taste each others’ food, understand each others’ culture better and help to further cement our traditional friendship.”

The Ambassador stated that China and Sierra Leone enjoy time-honored friendship, during the past 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

China-Sierra Leone relation has developed smoothly and become a model of China-Africa friendship and cooperation and that he is confident that their Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership will have new progress in the new era and help the two people pursue a happy and wonderful life.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor of Fourah Bay College, Pros. Kelleh Mansaray, applauded Confucius Institute for holding its first Annual Chinese and Sierra Leonean Food Festival which he said is very important towards enhancing cultural exchanges between the two countries.

He said that since the establishment of the Confucius Institute in Sierra Leone they have contributed immensely towards staff and students of the University, of which he assured of the University administration continuous support in providing an enabling environment for the Confucius Institute.

Closing the ceremony was the official opening of the first Annual Chinese and Sierra Leonean Food Festival ceremony of which participants present had the opportunity to eat both Chinese and Sierra Leonean Food.

 

 

 

 

Monime Next-Generation Payment Aggregation Platform Launched

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their aim towards making payments so easy that every business starts receiving cashless payments in the country, Monime, in partnership with Orange Money and Afrimoney has on Friday 10th February, 2023 officially launched its Next-Generation Payment Aggregation Platform. The well-attended ceremony was held at Hill-Side Bypass Road in Freetown.

The launch of the Monime platform will allow businesses of all sizes to seamlessly aggregate payments from multiple payment rails (mobile money, banks and cards) using a single interface and also provide standard APIs and documentation for potential fintech and e-commerce solution providers to reduce their time to market.

Speaking during the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of Monime, Sorieba Daffae described Monime, as the fast-growing payment company, adding that it is the next-generation solution designed to revolutionise the payment industry, furthering that Monime offers a unique combination of advanced technology and user-friendly features that make it the go-to solution for individuals and businesses of all sizes.

He stated that Monime is designed to address the major pain points faced by businesses and provide them with a comprehensive solution for payment collection and that it leverages cutting-edge technology to deliver unprecedented results and an exceptional user experience.

“We are thrilled to launch Monime, a game-changing solution for the payment industry,” said Sorieba Daffae. “Our team has worked tirelessly to create a product that not only addresses the challenges faced by businesses but also provides a seamless and intuitive experience for individuals. We believe Monime will set a new standard for payment solutions and help our customers achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively.”

He further disclosed that Monime allows for the seamless collection of payments from mobile wallets, credit cards and banks using a single interface and also provides standard APIs and documentation for potential fintech and e-commerce solution providers to reduce their time to market, noting that the product has already received positive feedback from early adopters, who have praised its ease of use, advanced technology, and outstanding results.

“We are confident that Monime will be a valuable asset for individuals and organisations,” added the CEO. “With its innovative features and user-friendly interface, it is poised to make a significant impact on the market and become the go-to solution for individuals and businesses.”

The CEO concluded by stating that their mission is more than just words as it inspires them to seek out what’s best for their customers, partners, and people, adding that their commitment to growth enables them to drive the financial services industry forward, and their easy-to-use payment solution is designed to help any business succeed. He said “We’re not just a payment processor, but a partner for forward-looking companies on their journey to growth.”

Commenting at the launch, one of the partners, Afrimoney which was represented by the Managing Director, Africell Sierra Leone,Shadi Gerjawi, commended the launch of Monime in the country, adding that it is very important towards making Sierra Leone cashless.

He said that Afrimoney, which started in the country in 2014, is a sure way of achieving financial inclusion, as it gives opportunity to the under-served to be reached at a relatively cheap cost, stating that they are very happy to partner with Monime.

Other Representatives from Orange Money and Western Rural District Council also made salient statements at the ceremony of which they commended the launch and assured the company of their corporation.

Climaxing the event was the cutting of cake by attendees symbolizing the official launch of Monime.

Dr Alhaji U N’jai Lectures 5th Batch of NYSC through “Patriotism for Nation Building”

By Fatmata Jengbe

Dr.  Alhaji U N’jai, Founder and Chief Strategist for Project 1808, Inc. delivered a lecture on Wednesday 8th February 2023 to four hundred (400) Corps of the National Youth Service Orientation Training on “Patriotism for Nation Building”.

The lecture was part of a twenty-one (21) day orientation course at the Army Peace Mission Training Center at Hastings, Freetown facilitated by the National Youth Service (NYS), an agency of the Ministry of Youth Affairs.

Dr. N’jai has been a Chief Guest Lecturer for the NYS orientation training scheme since it began in 2018 with its first batch of two hundred (200) Corps.

While delivering his lecture, Dr. N’jai described “Patriotism as the corner stone and pillar for nation building.” He said a fundamental move by many developed countries around the world has been the practice of imbibing the culture and idea of patriotism in the minds of their citizens. He admonished the students to learn or revisit history in order to understand the idea of patriotism which will prevent the act of operating blindly or in a vacuum “When we talk about patriotism, we have to know that history matters. In Sierra Leone and across Africa, the reason why we are enjoying certain freedoms and doing certain things is because some people did something before us, made major sacrifices or laid the legacies for us to be here,” he said.

Dr. Alhaji N’jai, who is also a lecturer at the University of Sierra Leone, described patriotism as a tool that could be used to promote total liberation and self-empowerment. He encouraged the Corps to emulate the spirit of courage and leadership portrayed by Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinque), a key historic figure in Sierra Leone’s and anti-slavery history. Dr. N’jai outlined history, language, and psychological factors, as the drivers of patriotism, while stating that self-doubt, self-hate are major impediments to patriotism.

Speaking on the aspect of Leadership, the Founder and Chief Strategist of Project 1808, Inc. termed leadership as a means of service. “Leadership is about serving one’s society and understanding the aspect of service and its duties. That is why this program is called youth service,” he added. He implored the Corps to be agents of change within their communities and society, stating that change starts small. “Change doesn’t require big input of resources. It is the little actions that can create big changes,” he reiterated.

Dr. N’jai delved in several other areas of patriotism and leadership; referencing impacts made by past and present Pan African Leaders from within and outside the African continent.

He highlighted the roles played by major Sierra Leoneans such as Africanus Horton, Bai Bureh, ITA Wallace Johnson, Constance Agatha Cummings-John, Madam Yoko, Davidson Sylvester Nicol, Sir Milton Augustus Margai, amongst many others. Dr. N’jai therefore urged the Corps to “learn about the past, get inspiration, reflect on the present predicaments and mistakes, and then build hope for the future.”

The Director of Programs, Recruitment and Training at the NYS, Sylvester Bewie, while presenting a certificate of participation over the years to Dr. N’jai, described him as a pillar to the NYS scheme since its inception.  Bewie acknowledged the role of the Founder and Chief Strategist of Project 1808 to academia in Sierra Leone; stating “these are the people we must emulate and celebrate because he has contributed greatly to knowledge and the development of this country.”   Bewie said the rationale behind the youth service scheme is to provide the agency for young people through capacity building and as well as have practical job experiences. This is also the goal of Project 1808 Inc, a Sierra Leonean non-profit Community Based Organization (CBO) that was established in 2011 with a mission to create thriving children, youths, adults, and communities by providing tools for technical, leadership, entrepreneurial, and greater resourcefulness.

Mayiella Sesay a graduate from the Institute for Public Administration and Management said it has been a great experience in gaining knowledge about the role of youth in promoting national development. She expressed the view that lectures like the one delivered by Dr. N’jai and others are very good for nation building.

Also, Moses Mohamed Sellay a graduate from Njala University said he has been strongly influenced to be a change agent based on the trainings and experiences from the NYS training centre. He said a takeaway from Dr. N’jai’s lecture was the idea to reflect on one’s culture and reclaim one’s history for self-emancipation.

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