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Orange Foundation Offers Baby Packs Gifts to Lactating Mothers at Kroo Bay

By Francis Kamara

Orange-SL through its Orange Foundation and in partnership with its implementing partner, ICAP, has on Wednesday 21st December 2022, donated Christmas gifts to lactating mothers, that is those that have given birth, at the Kroo-Bay Community hospital.

The Christmas gifts contained a ‘baby pack’ with items like baby napkins, baby diapers, baby clothes, blankets, and baby cots.

The Director of Orange Foundation, Madam Jestina Betts, presented the gifts to the lactating mothers at Kroo-Bay Community hospital. She congratulated the mothers for their successful deliveries.

She went on to state that the project, which started exactly one year ago, falls under the top three categories of Culture, Health, and Education. She added that their objective is to prevent maternal mortality, as Sierra Leone is among the top three countries with the highest maternal mortality rates.

Madam Jestina Betts concluded that the move is also geared towards encouraging and sensitizing pregnant women to visit the hospital during pregnancy – as pregnant women in Sierra Leone tend to use cheaper methods of giving birth. She encouraged them to make use of the different facilities that Orange-SL and Orange Foundation have provided all across the country and have safe deliveries.

The Head of Coding at Orange-SL, Madam Priscilla Okechuwku, in her statement encouraged women to always go through the anti-natal process.

She emphasized that Christmas is a period of giving and putting smiles on the faces of people and they want these pregnant women to be happy during this period. She asserted that with these gifts, the mothers now have all the important items needed to take care of their babies.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Aminata Kamara acknowledged and thanked Orange Foundation for such a wonderful gesture. She added that the gifts will take care of them and their babies, as it will safeguard them.

Climaxing the donation event was the recipients expressing joy extending profound thanks as they celebrated with Orange Foundation for such a wonderful humanitarian gesture.

 

 

Tourism Ministry Conducts Regional Discussions on Tourism for Peace

With support from the World Bank, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in continuation of the celebrations of UN World Tourism Day on the 19th and 20th December,2022 commenced regional discussions on Tourism for Peace. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Rethinking Tourism” which was domesticated as “the impact of violence and conflict on tourism”. The events were held at Paloma Hotel Hall in Kenema and Bo Inn Hotel Hall in Bo respectively.

September 27 is commemorated by all member states of the UN as World Tourism Day, in continuation of the series of events organized nationwide that geared towards raising awareness on the need for peaceful coexistence and to prevent a reoccurrence of the ugly incidents of August 10, August, 2022. The Ministry thought it prudent to engage the youths, women, traditional leaders and the general public on the impact of conflict on tourism and other businesses.

Opening the sessions, the Permanent Secretary, Edward Kwame Yankson said they were excited to hold the discussions in the provinces to raise awareness in preventing the ugly happenings of August 10 which he said impacted the country negatively. He explained that one of the mandates of the Tourism sector is to rebrand the country’s image internationally and lure visitors to come to Sierra Leone, but painting a bad image of the country as in the case of the August 10 incident will hinder the gains made, hence they are having the nationwide discussions on peace for tourism.

In his welcome statements, Paramount Chief Lappia Boima of Bo District applauded the Ministry for the visible strides and initiatives in giving Sierra Leone’s tourism the correct flavour. He said bringing discussions like this to the provinces is timely and looked forward to a fruitful deliberation to raising awareness on the need for peace at all times.

The Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh said the observance of the World Tourism Day was to recognize the contribution of the sector to the socio-economic development of different economies in the world and to also recognize the historical, natural and cultural universal values of the heritage sites. He continued that for Sierra Leone, they centred this year’s celebrations on peace as a prerequisite for tourism development. He explained the essence of peace and it importance on tourism on a destination and how projecting bad images of the country will shy away visitors and investors from the destination. He highlighted the successes of the Ministry as per the New Direction manifesto and many other gains made by the sector.

In her keynote address, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt intimated that the successes of the Ministry over the past few years were made possible because of peace. She reiterated that peace is a prerequisite for tourism as no tourist will come to a country that has no peace and appealed to all citizens to always keep the peace as there are many remedies to settle conflicts. She added that as they draw closer to the general elections, there should be peaceful coexistence to consolidate the developmental strides of the nation. She pinpointed the root tourism programme of the Ministry, the Budapest Rally and the upcoming AfriCaribbean festival as laudable achievement that require peace. She encouraged Sierra Leoneans to maintain the peace and obey the rule of law.

Districts representatives, officials from the councils, Civil Society Organisations, the security sector, Bike Riders Association and Hotel Associations made relevant inputs on the discussions. Interactive and participatory high-level panel discussions on the impact of conflict on tourism and other businesses wrapped up the sessions.

SLBL Showcases Huge Investment in its Production Chain

By Amin Kef Sesay-Ranger

During a conducted press tour of the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) on Wednesday 21st December, 2022, journalists were updated or briefed about the company’s 2022 activities and shown the company’s latest investment in its production chain.

Addressing the Press, the Corporate Affairs Manager of Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Foday Daboh, commended and expressed gratitude to members of the Press for their support towards the company, which he described, as very outstanding saying such helped to put the company in a position where it is today.

He also spoke about what the company has done in its areas of operation and even beyond since its inception in Sierra Leone in 1960s, stating that recently the company celebrated its 60th anniversary of which he maintained that 60 years down the line the company has been living up to expectations.

Commenting on the activities of the company’s 60th anniversary celebration, Foday Daboh said that the celebration went well and that it started with an in-house celebration,   a three days football gala organized for their immediate neighboring communities to participate in, tagged: “True Togetherness Inter-Community Football Gala”, holding an SLBL festival etc.

Foday Daboh said that for the past two years the company has been receiving complaints about their products, adding that as a company they deemed it fit to invite the media on a tour of its facilities especially their production chain in order for Pressmen to see how impossible it is for them to do certain things warranting complaints about their products.

He added that the company’s products do indeed meet international Standards and ISO specifications further dispelling rumors going around that the Brewery’s products are contaminated.

“All Brewery Products meet ISO Standards and Specifications,” he affirmed while taking the media on a tour to examine the company’s facilities and for them to get first-hand information of their products during the production chain.  He disclosed that the company has invested on its facilities in order to ensure that it produces quality products for its consumers, furthering that with all the highly sophisticated equipment used for producing Brewery products, it is not easy for them to produce contaminated drinks.

The machines, the Corporate Affairs Manager said, can reject any drink or bottle or can that has problem during the production chain, of which demonstration of contaminated bottles or cans were made by the company in front of journalists and journalists saw when those contaminated bottles and cans were rejected by the machines in the production chain.

He used the opportunity to inform pressmen that the company has spent 500,000 Euros in building an equipped Supply Chain Academy were young Sierra Leoneans from Universities will be trained and certified with the necessary job market skills.

On his part, the Laboratory Manager  at Sierra Leone Brewery, Donstance Thompson Freezer, toed the line of the Corporate Affairs Manager, and added that as a company they are producing drinks that meet international standards.

“Our Products are ISO certified which shows that we are producing quality products that meet international standards,” he disclosed adding that except out of human error, but it is not easy for the company to produce contaminated drinks.

In light of the complaints coming from members of the public about their products, he said, the company has developed a Complaints Management Unit to look at those complaints coming from consumers and if they discover that they are genuine after doing laboratory tests they would compensate any complainant.

Climaxing the tour was a question and answer session.

 

Civil Society Consortium Appeals for Compliance with $25 Securiport Fee

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a Press Conference held on Thursday 22nd December, 2022 at Fourth Street in Freetown, the Civil Society Consortium on Community Accountability and Service Delivery has urged all inbound and outbound Passengers in Sierra Leone to comply with the agreed amount (US$25) Securiport fee of the Freetown International Lungi Airport at the time of purchasing their air tickets.

Reading a press statement, the Gender Adviser Civil Society Consortium on Community Accountability and Service Delivery, Hawa Koroma, said that the public can recall that the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed all inbound and outbound passengers, particularly those using the Freetown International Airport at Lungi that effective 31st August 2022, the Government of Sierra Leone ceased to pay for security services provided by Securiport and that passengers should now foot the cost for the aforementioned services.

She added that since 2016, the Government of Sierra Leone had been footing the said cost of security services provided by Securiport at the Freetown International Airport for all inbound and outbound Passengers, but continued that, however, considering the adverse impact of the world economic crisis on the country’s economy and other additional commitments, the Government can no longer meet the initial service cost of US$40 for each inbound and outbound passenger.

Hawa Koroma said that for that reason, the Government of Serra Leone engaged the Management of Securiport to re-negotiate the cost of their services per passenger and that the re-negotiated fee for both inbound and outbound passengers is now US$25 per person.

She stated that the Consortium on Service Delivery, in ensuring that quality security measures are provided at the Freetown International Airport as an international best practice, is encouraging all inbound and outbound Passengers to pay the agreed amount (US$25) at the time of purchasing their air tickets in order to avoid any embarrassment, disclosing that the fee can also be paid through Orange Money, Afrimoney, and online payment platform: www.securipass.sl and that passengers who do not have access to the internet or mobile phone services can execute the transaction over the counter at the following banks, Ecobank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB).

“Finally the Consortium on Service Delivery will closely follow and monitor all processes in ensuring that quality security services are provided by all parties concerned,” she concluded.

Speaking on behalf of Securiport, the Finance Supervisor, Emmanuel Jones said that the new airport will soon be ready and flights going in and out of Sierra Leone will increase significantly adding that such will also increase the need for safety and security.

He maintained that Securiport is bringing the latest technologies to Sierra Leone, to put the Government and intelligence services in full control of who is entering and leaving the country at the airport, stating that Securiport is doing such to keep the airport safe, to keep the airlines safe, to keep the equipment at the airport safe, to keep the travelers safe and to keep the country safe, in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone.

 

Krio Descendants Union Reveals Re-Creating a Krio Village Museum

Krio Descendants Union

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a well-attended ceremony held on Wednesday 21st December, 2022 at Freetown Golf Club, Lumley Beach, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) officially inaugurated the “Kushe en Kabo” event.

Professor Alpha Wurie, who was deputizing President Bio as the Guest of Honour, cut the tape to officially inaugurate the one day Kushe en Kabo event which, it was learnt was held in continuation of the 230 years celebration of the founding of Freetown, where former slaves, who worked on rice, corn, sugar and cotton fields during the 15th and 16th century, after gaining their freedom, settled.

Further pointed out during the event was that it has been 230 years now since the descendants of slaves from England, Nova Scotia, the America’s and the Caribbean were brought to the Province of Freedom, which is present day Freetown, that generations of slaves repatriated back home who are known as Krios have been coexisting with other tribesmen from the hinterland and those they met after they returned.

Professor Wurie after officially cutting the tape to open the one day programme of events moved around the various stalls imitating the original Krio style of living, which is like the Whiteman’s way of living, that was imported back home with regards to food and clothing, but said despite the struggles they went through, the Black Poor, as they were called, never forgot their roots, which is the African tradition and culture.

He admired at the print clothing commonly called Cabaslot and the shoes to match, known as canvas slippers made by using a special hand craft done by grandmothers as a way of passing time while transacting trade in their small shops.

Professor Wurie, while sipping homemade ginger beer, said despite he the fact that he hails from the provinces, Gbinti in the north, the Krio culture and tradition is partly responsible for what he is today and called on all descendants of the Krio Society across the country and the Diaspora to embrace unity citing that lack of togetherness has affected the unity of a people once admired for pursuing education as well as for their involvement in trade and commerce.

Professor Wurie recalled days during and after the colonial era when Krios were highly recognized for the roles they played in the  day to day administration noting Krios were at the helm of affairs in different state institutions, both in Freetown and the hinterland.

He underscored that the new generation of Krios are no longer keen to serve in the public sector because many prefer to become professionals in various disciplines away from direct public service.

Professor Wurie said he is delighted that the new customary land rights now gives every citizen to own land anywhere across the country, and appealed to the Krio Diasporians present to repatriate back home and own land to invest and contribute towards sustainable national development, through public, private partnership. “We are One Country and One People, and no should be left behind. It is time for all ethnic groups to rethink and buckle up to serve the land that we love, in order for posterity not to judge us,” he concluded.

Kobi Walker, a member of the Krio Descendant Union (KDU) intimated that this is the first “Kushe en Kabo” event that has been organized by the Union in recognition of the 230 years of the founding of Freetown as a result of the abolition of the slave trade by Sir Mansfield, William Wilberforce and Granville Sharp who thought that the black poor have toiled and tilled lands enough and it was time to let them go.

He added that the items displayed on stalls for sale were for fund raising and at the same time reminded members that their fore parents were entrepreneurs and despite acquiring professional knowledge and skills, they should not forget the sources that paid tuition fees to make them what they are in society.

He assured that the Kushe en Kabo will now be an annual programme and highlighted the many development plans lined up to be implemented for the further growth of the KDU including a bank to assist those in trade and commerce and also to re-create a Krio village museum, to complement tourism.

Local Community Head at Regent, Rev. Leonora Jokobi Metzeger also appealed to Krios in the Diaspora to come back home and rebuild citing that their absence is a cause many colonial traditional structures are losing value and land are being lost to non indigenes.

She added the old tradition of communal living is quickly fading away including the collective efforts to bring children up in the manner they should grow.

The climax of the event was the reading out of Goodwill messages from both the KDU President in Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

Poro Society Men Wants Eugene Cole Dead Or Alive

Eugene Cole.jpeg
Eugene Cole

By Foday Moriba Conteh

A 17 years old Eugene Cole who fled out of Sierra Leone in 2017 to save his life as poro men wanted to initiates him forcefully has Again on the 17th December 2022 declared wanted dead or alive during the Christmas festival of the poro society in yoni Bana.

Information reaching this medium intimated that Eugene Cole was declared WANTED again by the Poro Society in yoni Bana as they consider him betraying the society therefore they declare him wanted dead or alive .It all generates on Friday 14, July 2017 when Eugene Cole escaped from the Poro society bush at Yoni Bana, Tonkolili District, northern part of sierra Leone.

According to sources, Eugene Cole’s father Raymond Cole aka Yamba soko is the head of the Poro society who has grown old but want his son Eugene Cole to take over after him.
According to the report, Eugene Cole who was defiant to join the Poro society was urged by his father and some Poro men to join, adding that being so defiant to join the Poro society, Eugene Cole was reported to have manhandled and forcefully taking to the society bush for initiation.

Eugene Cole, Report continue that he escaped from the society bush during Initiation at that faithful night and this catches the attention of several media houses but too much political involvement and protection of the society ordeals have technically refrain the involvement of the government says a pastor within the township .
According to one Amadu Conteh, the escape of Eugene Cole from the society bush resulted to rampage in the village.

Amadu Conteh continue that the Poro society devil came to the village from the bush demanding Eugene Cole’s dead or alive.
Eugene’s father had been alleged to always confront Eugene on several occasions to prepare for the Poro initiation but the lad was said to have always told him that he would never be part to such devlish society.

In the afternoon hours of 5th July 2017, Yamba (Eugene’s father) was said to have organized a feast at home inviting his colleagues and friends. In the presence of huge gathering, it was alleged that there was a halt, as Yamba (Eugene’s father) stood up, and told Eugene that the feast was organized purposely for him to be forcefully initiated into the Poro society. Eyewitness said, Eugene was taken to the Poro shrine where they forcefully initiated him despite his protest and resistance.

Many villagers according to many, flee to the nearby bush in fear of them being forcefully captured and Initiated in the society at night.
The escapee of Eugene Cole was reported that, he has inter earlier explained to his father the reason he was defiant to join the Poro society.

Eugene, many say had been singled as the appropriable successor of his father as supreme controller of the Poro society in that part of the country.
An elder, Pa Sorie Kamara from Yoni Bana village explained to this medium that, Eugene Cole had inter earlier explained to his father that, he want to further his education and become a pastor in the future.

Pa Kamara stated that Eugene’s father vehemently denied his son’s demand and vowed that his son should become his predecessor.
Furthermore, members of the Poro society has threaten to continue with the search to capture Eugene Cole in fear of exposing their society in public domain.

Moreover, sources claimed that Eugene Cole has traveled to freetown in fear of him being killed by members of the Poro society.But unfortunately the poro society is a very wide entity with influential membership and there is all possibility that Eugene Cole will be captured in freetown .
Meanwhile Eugene Cole is nowhere to be found.

NP-SL Always Demonstrates Caring as an Oil Marketing Entity

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

By Amin Kef-Ranger

It is strongly incontestable that the leading petroleum company in the country, NP-Sierra Leone Limited, is highly known for being the first in the realm of customer care. This is indisputable when cognizance is taken of how Management is very keen on optimizing customer satisfaction in its service delivery on different fronts.

Members of staff of the company are very mindful of the fact that it is the customer that comes first and therefore needs the utmost attention always ensuring that transactions are conducted under a congenial atmosphere that results into a win-win situation. For this brilliant and managerial initiative, the company has been making positive headways in positioning to stand tall among other business entities in this part of the world.

With a capable and result-oriented Staff, working collaboratively and assiduously, where even the cleaner is regarded as highly relevant there is bound to be positive outcomes and the company has mastered this by ensuring that synergy is enhanced.

One admirable quality that NP-SL Ltd possesses is working tirelessly and effectively using its contacts with oil-producing countries in order to ensure that there is timely purchase and delivery of petroleum products to avoid shortages. It goes without saying that fuel, for example, could be a political commodity in the sense that fluctuation in its price would make a Government likeable or unpopular. When the price goes up then people blame the Government for that but if it goes down it is kudos for the political administration.

Its timely importation of petroleum products has earned NP high commendations from various quarters simply because it helps to cushion unrest and other forms of disadvantageous effects one of which is increase in transport fares, increase in the prices of certain commodities. The pro-activeness of the company invariably has a direct impact on poverty reduction in variable ways.

Some who may not be aware of the fact that NP-SL Ltd is wholly owned by Sierra Leoneans vis-à-vis the visibility of the company and how it is remarkably striving could find it hard to believe that it a truly indigenous company.

However, that remains the plain truth when it is learnt that it was Sierra Leonean 35 workers formerly working for British Petroleum (BP) who pulled together their end of service benefits to purchase shares which were used to establish NP, which today is a success story of an indigenous company, having branches in various parts of the country and in other four West African countries namely Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The company’s operations right across the spectrum is contributing towards revenue generation and job creation for many.

With gas as one its marketable products it was thought wise to be producing gas cookers, popularly known as NP Gas, which could be access at their different filling stations. According to investigation conducted NP Gas is cooking-friendly, safe and long lasting. It is going at an affordable price and many are going for it.

The company, in line with matching with technology, introduced the use of a Smart Card widely known as NP Smart Card which is a Card with memory chip embedded that can be credited with money and debited when it is used during the purchase of fuel. The holder only slots the loaded card into the space on the pumping machine after commanding the amount of fuel to be pumped and the exact amount is discharged with the card ready for another recharge to be used for the next purchase. It has been acknowledged that it is a safe, cashless way of conducting transactions assuring greater security and budgetary adjustments.

When reference is made to the effective implementation of the Local Content Policy, then NP-SL Ltd stands tall within that realm as nearly all its members of staff are Sierra Leoneans thereby making use of local talents everywhere they are operating. The Local Content Policy is indeed an engine of growth and NP is making full use of it.
Although these are trying times for the company in terms of easily accessing petroleum products as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine, however, Management is doing everything possible to ensure that these products are available and accessible.

 

 

 

 

 

Could Omrie Golley Be The Man To Unify An Ethnically Divided Sierra Leone?

Ambassador Omrie Michael Golley

By Abdul Malik Bangura

Sierra Leone is a tiny West African nation widely known for its decade-long bloody civil war which claimed the lives of thousands of harmless compatriots. The effect of the carnage of the apocalyptic civil war still runs through the veins of many as it has divided our post-war nation more into ethno-regional and ethno-political grounds.

Moving fast forward, the country made its mark in the sphere of the international criminal justice system. This is the first country in the world where a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was held together with a Special Court which according to the Special Court for Sierra Leone Statute had “the power to prosecute persons who bear the greatest responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law committed in the territory of Sierra Leone since 30 November 1996, including those leaders who, in committing such crimes, have threatened the establishment of and implementation of the peace process in Sierra Leone.” However, the reconciliatory approach and the war crimes trial approach have both not addressed the issue of our regional divide in the country.

Indeed, this prompts the need for a more vibrant approach to get someone onboard at this time in our history.  The person needs to unify us based on his experience in the peace process and as a key figure in pushing through the peace process. This person is Ambassador Omrie Michael Golley.

Of course, many enthusiastic youths will refer to Ambassador Omrie Golley as the Nelson Mandela of Sierra Leone. Safe to say, it is true. Here is a man who had unfairly and unjustly suffered the brunt of being in prison for an alleged crime that was never justified. Hence he was acquitted and discharged.

But like always, for his love of his country, Omrie Golley who is a businessman, lawyer, philanthropist and politician working and living in Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom, continues to use his official and personal connections to bring goodies and development into Sierra Leone. The landmarks are everywhere for us to see. Like the construction of the Korean-funded City Hall project, and the assistance to health, education, and social welfare brought by Ambassador Omrie Golley when he was the head of Sierra Leone’s mission to the Republic of South Korea, the construction of the demonstration centres have again shown that our esteem Ambassador Omrie has development initiatives that navigate across all the regions of the country.

Meanwhile, unifying a nation is always the bastion for peace. In the Biblical Matthew 5:9, it was said that: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”  Hence as Christ continues his lesson on the characteristics of believers, it is no surprise that only those who daily conquer sin in their own lives—who work to bring peace to the civil war in their own hearts—that are ready to help others fight this battle as well. Indeed, from prison to diplomacy and to philanthropy, Omrie Golley is the pure in heart who can unify an ethno-politically divided Sierra Leone. The time is right!! The time is now!!!

Chinese Embassy Throws Christmas Party for Kids Learning Chinese

The atmosphere was full of fun as laughter permeated the air on Friday 16th December 2022 as kids from five (5) schools in Freetown showcased their talents in celebration of their first Small Small Chinese (SSC) Christmas Party.

The Christmas party organized by the Sierra Leone China Friendship (SiLCHA), Small Small Chinese (SSC) section, targeted over 150 kids from various schools, who are learning the Chinese Language, and was hosted by Excel Day Care and Academy with support from the Chinese Embassy in Freetown.

The celebration was also graced by the Chinese Embassy Head of Political Section, HU Aimin and GE Yao, Political Officer, who took time to interact with the kids and expressed optimism about the growth of the Chinese Language in the country.

HU Aimin expressed joy to be part of the kids’ celebration as he was happy to see the smiling faces of the kids. He recalled that during his childhood days such opportunity where not there for them as kids.

He took the opportunity to applaud SSC for what they have done by promoting Chinese Language to young people in Sierra Leone.

“This is a noble cause because the Chinese language is one of the hardest languages in the world but it is the most interesting language. I encourage you to study hard, if you study hard, you will be able to know the language little by little through the effort of SSC,” he enjoined.

Mr. Hu furthered that the Chinese Embassy is supporting the great cause of Small Small Chinese, noting that through that more people will become interested in the language.

He disclosed that SSC is also collaborating with other partners like the Confucius Institute and the Ministry of Education among others to promote communication between China and Sierra Leone.

“The Embassy is very happy to see the growth of the program from strength to strength. Our hearts are with you; let us work together to make this program even bigger and stronger. I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year,” he said.

One of the school’s representatives Janet Sefoi of Jarwlee Lewis School, said SSC is expanding.

“e want to break that barrier so that when the children go to China there will be no barrier for them,” she said.

She said they are grateful to share the joy of Christmas with the kids and also thanked SiLCHA and the Chinese Embassy for making it possible to interact with the kids.

“We will continue to press on to do the good work by expanding not only in Freetown but throughout Sierra Leone,” she stated.

SiLCHA Chairperson, Onike King said that part of the SiLCHA’s mission is to teach Chinese to everybody. She thanked the Founder of SiLCHA& SSC, Mariatu Kargbo for the passion of breaking the language barrier between the two countries.

Mrs. King went on to say that they made a decision that if they want to make things work they should start with the kids.

She explained that last year they started with one school and now they have 5 schools this academy year in partnership with the Confucius Institute and the Chinese Embassy.

She pointed out that Maria has done a lot as she is the brain behind the initiative.

“We are bringing the Chinese language to the doorstep of the people, and we are going school to school,” she said.

The kids played different games including dancing and singing competition as they interacted with one another.

 

Three MMTU Students Bag Le.60M in Innovation Contest

The third Hackathon Pitch Night was held at the MMTU Congo Cross campus in Freetown with students from MMTU and Limkokwing University of Creative Arts and Technology as participants.

It was held by the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, the World Bank, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency and the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, on Saturday 18th December 2022

The first prize of Le30 million old Leones was won by Grace Tech who designed a website for laboratories nationwide to link up to effectively respond to pandemics in the country, second prize of Le20 million-Ehga Solutions and third prize of Le10 million -SAJ TECH.

The participating teams from the two institutions were AMATEK, Ehga Solutions, COMPACT, Team Instruction and SAJ TECH among others.

The topics pitched were designing a website to track violators of the Hands off our Girls Campaign, Students Management System–development of a website to access students’ grades and other educational reports/materials and Linking Laboratories in Sierra Leone to effectively respond to pandemics in the country, timely response and synchronizing their systems.

Each group was given eight minutes to make its presentation.

Earlier in his welcome statement, the Dean of the Congo Cross campus, Maada Tommy Tejan revealed that the first and second Pitch Nights sponsored by the World Bank have been successfully held and that all participants are winners.

Dr. Philip John Kanu, Vice Chancellor and Principal of MMTU commended the organizers, that the competition is the sharing of ideas, that great investors start with small ideas, that students must put the skills learnt in universities into practice, observed that there has been a lot of development at the Congo Cross campus, that students now have opportunities that were not available in the past and that unemployment is a challenge in the country.

He also assured that the Judges would be objective and unbiased and wished participants good luck with the hope that their ideas would be marketable to the people.

The World Bank consultant, Mr. Kwaku Frazer underscored that the competition is all about entrepreneurship and how to develop innovation hobs in universities and disclosed that participants were trained for three days for the competition.

The Judges included the Head of Engineering at Fourah Bay College, the Accountant at RITCORP and a staff of the Freetown City Council who revealed the criteria for the competition as front end user experience, customer access, back end, simplicity, accessibility, user-interface, easy adaptation and data capturing.

The lead Judge, on behalf of his colleagues, commended the coaches for assiduously working on the various topics in two days, observed that the world cares about solutions to problems and advised participants to next time make PowerPoint presentations that is much easier, that the presentations within the various groups were poorly done and commended one group for working under pressure.

Highlights of the event were the presentation of prizes to participants and groups while the vote of thanks was delivered by the Secretary General of the Students’ Union.

 

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