Home Blog Page 838

Ten Presidential Nominees Endorsed by Parliament

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Ten nominees, who were appointed by President Bio, as a result of powers invested in him by the 1991 Constitution, to serve as in various capacities within the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion appeared before Parliamentary Appointments Committee on the 21st October 2021 for vetting.

The ten Presidential Nominees who were vetted and finally approved by parliament were:  Sheka Mansaray to serve as Chairman Board of Directors of the  Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion , Valnora Anita Christiana Edwin as a Member Board of Directors, Alhaji Sulaiman Bah as a Member Board of Directors,  Hon. PC Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku Sonsiama III as a Member Board of Directors, Rev. Mrs Olivia Helen Iyesatta Fonnie as a Member Board of Directors,  Ambassador Haja Alari Cole as a Member Board of Directors,   John Vandy Rogers as Deputy Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency, Col. (Rtd) Binneh Kondeh Conteh as Deputy Commissioner of the  National Commission on Small Arms,  Joseph Ahmed Turay-Member Board of Directors of the  Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion and

Rev. Dr.  Shodanke Johnson as a member of the Board of Director of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion

Seconding the motion, the Opposition Whip, Hon. Hassan Sesay said the approval of Presidential nominees was a national duty and went on to inform the House that it was of utmost importance to have the Independent  Commission for National Peace Cohesion functional. He recalled and reminded the nominees of the past incidences including the removal of MPs from Parliament, the Tombo fracas and others that were needed to be addressed for peace and national cohesion in the country.

The MP also said that civil servants were promoted on the grounds of tribal and regional basis. Calling on the nominees to make Sierra Leone proud, he urged them to embark on conflict resolution and prevention with a view to enhancing peace and national cohesion.

Leader of NGC, Hon. Dr.  Kandeh Yumkella said the nominees have huge tasks and went on to remind them of some of the SDGs relative to peace and national cohesion. He recalled how late President Kabbah initiated peace with his UN experience.  He advised the nominees to maintain integrity and promote impartiality in discharge of their duties. The MP asked the nominees to pay keen attention to certain documents that would face Parliament for approval.

Leader of C4C, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina thanked President Bio and the nominees, and recalled the horrendous civil conflict Sierra Leone had suffered before it came to an end in the year 2002. The MP highlighted the importance of peace and its requirement for sustainable development. He called on the nominees to focus on various factors that would enhance peace.  He commended some of the nominees  for their wealth of experience and qualities demonstrated over the years. He asked them to consider certain theories that would engender peace and national cohesion. The MP asked all and sundry to believe in the Leadership of the Presidency of Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

Hon. PC Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III thanked President Bio for setting up the Commission for Peace and National Cohesion and that it was paramount for peaceful co-existence in the country. He noted that all the nominees are household names with patriotic abilities to deliver on their appointments and called on Members to approve them. He advised the nominees to be ready to do what is right.

“Do not be afraid, fear God to ensure that the country is peaceful,” he stated and went on to say that Parliament had approved several nominees of high standings, but he said the country remains static. Appealing to the Hon. Speaker to support them to bring on a positive change, he called on the nominees for disaster management to brace up and properly prevent, manage and address disaster related issues in the country.

Hon. Neneh Lebbie applauded the President Bio for his commitment to peace by establishing the Commission on Peace and National Cohesion, and recalled his military days how he fought for peace and democracy in the country. She informed the House that Sierra Leone has continued to divided on partisan basis, adding with the establishment of the Peace Commission, conflicting issues would be addressed.

The MP used the opportunity to ask the nominees to unite the people. “The youths of this country are being used by us, politicians,” she asserted and urged them to sensitize the youths in a positive direction for national peace and development.

She recalled the factors that triggered the war in Sierra Leone and advised the Commission to address them adequately. She also threw light on disaster mitigation.

Hon. Daniel Koroma said the day was historic for the establishment of the Peace Commission and went on to say he had opposed to the idea of the Chief Minister chairing the Peace Commission, but according to him, it was unfortunately not heeded to. He asked the nominees to remove political lens to address political issues that would engender conflict in the country. He admonished all the nominees to work in the interest of peace and national cohesion of Sierra Leone.

Rounding up the debate, Acting Leader of Opposition, Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo recalled that during the course of initiating the parent document, they walked out, but today they are satisfied with the nominees. He said the Commission is supposed to be independent, and anything short of that, they raise question and sound the alarm bell. He expressed satisfaction over the composition of the nominees.

The Acting Opposition Leader called on the Peace Commission to lend credence from the Nigerian model, where people were given the opportunity to express their grievances for everlasting peace.  “People must know and express freely why they are bitter,” he stated.  He used the opportunity to raise question on the representation of parliamentary seats relative to the political and regional division in the country, condemning it as wrong for a Commission established to promote a peaceful co-existence in the country.

Speaking on poverty alleviation and the role of Paramount Chiefs, he said such a move would promote and enhance peace in the country. He said the Commission is good, but must be of good use to serve the national interest.

Concluding the debate, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma thanked all for acknowledging peace as a requirement for sustainable development. He commended President Bio for this peaceful initiative. He decried the opposition APC for boycotting the peace conference that laid the foundation for the birth of the National Commission for Peace and Cohesion in the country. He also denounced some politicians who  campaigned on tribal and regional lines and asked all and sundry to change their mindsets.

The Leader described President Bio as a sincere and patriotic Leader relative to the delivering on his manifesto promises. He also informed the House that the creation of a strong institution like the Peace Commission would enhance peace and  national cohesion in the country. The Leader said it was timely to support this Commission to consolidate peace and cohesiveness in Sierra Leone.

The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr.  Abass Chernor Bundu said the Commission is good and necessary for sustainable development in the country. He called on them to deliver on their respective appointments,  and assured them of parliamentary support for the success of the Commission on Peace and National Cohesion in the country which was long overdue. He concluded by wishing them good luck in their new appointments.

In another development, five bills were introduced for the first time in Parliament for consideration by Ministers of Government.

They include the National Payment Systems Act 2021, Deposit Protection Fund Act, 2021, Customary Land Rights Act, 2021, National Land Commission Act, 2021, and the Gender Empowerment Act, 2021.

Government Now Uses Technology to Address Various Educational Challenges

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education (MBSSSE) uses technology to address the profound ongoing teaching and learning crisis to deliver inclusive quality education.

The COVID-19 pandemic has indicated to the world that we need to reconsider the way we frame our education delivery systems if we aim to make it beneficial to everyone.

In Sierra Leone, the Government continues to meet the challenges associated with the ongoing teaching and learning problems.

Educational analysts suggest that one-third of the education workforce has not received any formal training and four out of five children leave primary school without what is required for foundational skills to further their study.

The situation becomes worse for children with disabilities, children from low-income families, children in rural areas, and girls.

The Government’s strides, under the astute leadership of the DSTI and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, has turned to technology to help stimulate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 to deliver inclusive, quality education.

The MBSSE is cognizant of the fact that education technology on its own cannot offer a quick fix to these systemic inequities. Therefore, the Ministry is taking an evidence-based approach to align the use of technology with its long-term vision for transforming the education sector and delivering on the promise of radical inclusion.

In doing so, they have built on their experience of using radio to provide continuous learning and teaching during the Ebola crisis.

As a result, the Ministry has now developed a hybrid offering — radio, television, mobile and web, and print media — to ensure children can learn wherever they are and with whatever resources they can access. With this innovation, the delivery of teaching and learning using this framework is right on course.

Though there remain numerous challenges with the Hybrid Edtech for continuous learning and teaching, yet, the Ministry is learning, iterating, and delivering to disrupt the status quo and make sure that no child or young person is left behind.

The use of EdTech to promote radical inclusion stresses an equally radical vision for technology-supported education service delivery in Sierra Leone. Thus, the Ministry has started mobilizing technology to support stakeholders across the system — Government officials, teachers, and learners — to navigate change.

Plans of the Ministry for delivery revolve around data. In 2018 for instance, the Annual School Census was digitized and enumerators were asked to use tablets to collect data from schools across the country. All information on students, teachers, finances, and infrastructure can now be accessed through the publicly available data hub web portal. Earlier this year, Principals in senior secondary schools were provided with a tablet and basic training to upload their census data.

The Ministry projects that by the start of the next academic year, some primary school leaders will be prepared to use tablets to collect, verify and apply dynamic data to drive school improvement.

The currently available data is being used to inform cutting-edge geospatial and machine learning analysis to find ways to eradicate structural barriers to education. Teachers will be expected to play crucial roles in actualizing the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to providing free, quality education to every child in Sierra Leone.

The success and sustainability of this objective require the support of school leaders and district officials.

The GoSL through the MBSSE acknowledges the invaluable support of its partners including the FREE Project, UNICEF, EdTech Hub, Fab Inc, GRID3, Leh Wi Lan, and the Education Commission. The GPE has supported education in Sierra Leone since 2007, with an estimated $55 million in grants to date.

NCRA Director General Takes the Institution to an Enviable Position

By Amin Kef Sesay

It has been indisputably affirmed that the appointment of Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi as Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) was indeed one of the best things that President Julius Maada Bio did after his election victory in 2018.

This assertion is justified when one takes a critical look at the sterling reforms and work ethics that the current Director General of that institution instituted that have made a former moribund institution to become one of the most referenced entity when it comes to contacting it for the provision of vital information relating to the personal information or details of citizens and non-citizens which Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) may be interested in accessing.

It will be recalled that the NCRA Bill was enacted by Parliament on the 30th June 2016 to pave the way for the establishment of the National Civil Registration Authority and undertaking of Civil Registration in the country.

The Authority is responsible for the continuous, permanent and compulsory recording of occurrences and characteristics of vital events including births, deaths, marriages, divorces, nullities and adoptions.

However, most members of the public know the NCRA exclusively as the institution responsible for the issuance of National Identification Cards ,which for legal identification sake and for accessing certain services from institutions are demanded for in order for the purpose of  undertaking verification.

Prior to the appointment of the current Director General there was a breakdown in the issuance of Identification Cards for reasons largely attributed to faulty infrastructure in terms of the non-functionality of its  machines used in the process.

When he was appointed by President Bio to head that very important institution, the first thing that Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi accomplished was to sync the institution with major key sector players and donor agencies in order to navigate the way forward in the revitalization of the institution in order for it to deliver on its mandate.

It will interest most to know that such a methodology produced fruitful dividends in the sense that the institution was able to develop strategies to make civil registration a success story in the country with the continuous collation and processing of data relating to the personal information or details of citizens and non-citizens in the country.

Under his watch and guidance, the NCRA, of late, has been able to develop and strengthen the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics systems which are considered very important for improving the quality of the country’s data base and for using such information to guide policies and programmes.

Through his leadership, the NCRA has been able to capture the broader concept in the United Nations definition of a vital statistics system as, “the total process of collecting information by civil registration or enumeration on the frequency or occurrence of specified and defined vital events, as well as relevant characteristics of the events themselves and the person or persons concerned.

Amidst many apprehensions , but through his dogged determination and coordination, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) successfully completed a nationwide Confirmation and Registration exercise of citizens and other residents which started on the 6th of May 2021 in the Western Area  and ended on the 3rd October, 2021 in Bo district. The data for new Registrants, captured during this period,  has now been transmitted to the Central System at the NCRA Headquarters, with the institution also undertaking the uploading for those that confirmed their personal information and to determine possible duplicates or multiple registration.

The institution also concluded a nationwide Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the proposed Data Protection Law and Regulation which was a continuation of the many meetings held with stakeholders to elicit participants opinion and/or position with regards the drafting of the Data Protection Policy, Bill and Regulations to be debated in Parliament at a later date.

Many could be wondering why it is that, of recent times, the NCRA has become such a vibrant public institution. The answer simply lies in the fact that the NCRA has been shaped by the Director General to become one of the most transparent and non-corrupt people friendly public entities in the country today.

It would be an understatement to state that members of staff are very helpful and friendly in the discharge of their respective assignments. For sure, no money changes hands at NCRA for the service they provide to the public.

Many that this medium interacted with to sound their opinions about the institution highly commended the Management and Staff for living up to the highest level of selfless public service.

“Other MDAs can greatly help to change the country’s development narrative if they do adopt NCRA’s devotion to serve-the –people-well mentality,” a renowned Political Commentator informed this medium.

It must be noted at this juncture that indeed, the man at the helm of affairs was just not appointed for appointment sake but as a result of his professionalism because as enshrined in his terms of reference he has, so far, been able to provide overall leadership and guidance in the conduct and management of the day-to-day operations of the Authority as well as initiate and maintain high level contact with interested parties, both local and international in relevant areas of the Authority.

He has more than 15 years of enviable professional experience in administration, management, programming, peace building and consolidation and democratic governance. He has worked with both local and International Organizations including the United Nations.

Prior to his appointment as NCRA’s Director-General, he served as Program Specialist/ Coordinator for the Integrated Health Projects Administration Unit (IHPAU) in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation where he impeccably coordinated and managed donor support to the health sector in Sierra Leone with transparency and accountability and as Program Implementation Coordinator for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sierra Leone attached to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation; and as Elections Expert at the National Electoral Commission.

As an Elections Expert, he served as Head of the Elections Logistics, Planning, and Security in the National Electoral Commission till 2007 and as a member of the UN International Technical Assistance Team that managed and conducted Afghanistan’s first democratic elections where he served as International Expert in Elections Logistics, Planning and Security in Kandahar, Southern Afghanistan in 2004.

He is a United Nations Certified and Rostered Expert in Democratic Governance and Electoral Systems and a Rostered candidate for Civil Affairs Officer at the P – 4 Level of the United Nations.

Currently, he is the appointed Ambassador for ID4Africa Movement in Sierra Leone and the elected Regional Vice Chairman (West Africa), Bureau of Civil Registration, Vital Statistics and Identity Management in Africa.

He holds an M.Sc. Degree in Development Studies and a BA Degree in English and Political Science. Additionally, he has had professional training in diverse disciplines and holds Diplomas and Certificates in relevant areas that include Contract Management, Financial Management, Democratic Governance, Project Management, Electoral Systems, Peace and Security, Monitoring and Evaluation.

In terms of Peace Keeping Operations… Ambassador Fanday Turay Assures UN C34 Sub-Committee of Sierra Leone’s Commitment

By Esther Wright

Ambassador Alhaji Fanday Turay, Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, has assured members of the United Nations C34 Sub- Committee that the Government of Sierra Leone is committed to contributing formidable forces to peacekeeping operations across the world.

He said frantic efforts are underway to upgrade the deployment readiness level of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police, (SLP) in order to fully participate in peacekeeping activities at various missions.

Ambassador Turay made the statement while addressing the Under-Secretary-General of Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, Atul Khare, on priority pledges for the Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting which will be held on 7 and 8 December 2021.
The meeting was organized by the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, co-sponsored by the other co-chairs of the Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting.

He informed the meeting that the Government of Sierra Leone will be prioritizing its pledge to the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (UNDPO) through the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS) as follows:
RSLAF will provide for – Engagement platoons, One Military Police Company, One Quick Reaction Force, One Force Protection Company, and One Infantry Battalion for deployment on Peacekeeping operations come 2022.

SLP – will provide one additional Formed Police Unit, 20 additional Individual Police Officers (IPOs) and Specialized Police Teams (SPT). Correctional Centre –Various Individual Correctional Centre Officers will be provided.

The PR informed that the Government of Sierra Leone will train and equip these forces to rapid deployment level to be deployed as and when required by the UN.
He concluded by stating that “Sierra Leone will highly appreciate partnering with other organizations for training and capacity building for our troops,”

NP-SL Ltd Unveils New 5 Star Gas/Filling Station in Waterloo

By Amin Kef Sesay

The ubiquitous National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) has on the 23rd October 2021 commissioned an ultra-modern Filling or Gas Station in Waterloo, in the Western Rural District, along the highway, named 5 Star Gas/Filling Station during a well attended and auspicious event.

Proprietor/Dealer of the new station is an ambitious and result-oriented young man by the name of Mohamed Kuyateh.

Chairman of the occasion, Vandy Bockarie, who is the Sales Manager at NP-SL Ltd, welcomed all for taking time off other schedules to attend the program, intimating that they are all about to witness a very important event which has to do with development.

He informed the audience, especially residents of the community where the new Filling Station is located, that everybody must be prepared always to embrace development simply because it brings with it other offshoot benefits.

“We at NP are very passionate in ensuring that petroleum products are always available for sale to members of the public and with this new station it will remove the burden of going elsewhere just for the purpose of procuring fuel,” he stated and called on all to give the Proprietor/Dealer all the necessary support he needs so that the investment turns out successful and benefits not only him, his family members but all and sundry within the community.

A close ally of the Proprietor/Dealer, Ibrahim Kamara, in giving a brief background of how the Filling Station materialized, informed those in attendance that the Proprietor purchased the piece of land in 2010. He furthered that after a while different people approached him to lease the land to them in order to establish various business enterprises but the Proprietor stiffly refused.

“He always responded to them by saying that he wants to develop the piece of land by doing something on it that will bring immense benefits to the community, improve individual standards of living ,pay taxes to Government and thereby contribute significantly to overall national development,” Ibrahim narrated  continuing that today that dream has turned out to become a reality which, he said, will definitely touch many lives.

The Member of Parliament of Constituency 107, where the Gas Station is situated, Hon. Abu Bakarr Fofanah, in his statement thanked all for supporting the Proprietor, whom he called “Awuwah”, for taking the initiative from ground level to completion stage. He described himself as one of the driving forces behind the Proprietor stating that the latter is a very humble and nice person expressing the view that because of his niceness and love for others God will continue to bless him. He prayed for him for God’s protection and enjoined all present to be security personnel of the new station.

Representing the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) was the Head of Compliance and Standards, Jayah .K. Muana, who stated that the mandate of the PRA is to give licences to individuals who are serious in investing within the petroleum sector, regulate the importation and marketing of petroleum products in the country to be sold at affordable prices.

“We are very keen in ensuring that many people have access to petroleum products which is why we are supporting the establishment of Filling Stations in different places within the country and for now we have issued a temporary license to the Proprietor of this new Filling Station and we wish him well in his future endeavours,”he underscored adding that it is but very much important for safety standards to be uphold and maintained at all times.

Chief Executive Officer of NP-SL Ltd, Ambassador Kobi Walker, extended greetings to all on behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of the petroleum entity. He said the Proprietor is fondly called Awuwah but for them at NP-SL Ltd he is popularly known as 5 Star General. He noted that the Proprietor was able to make such an enviable accomplishment simply because he was born within a petroleum related family revealing how his father was a former employee of NP-SL Ltd.

He told the gathering that the Proprietor has brought development that will have a cascading beneficial effect on all within the community.

In giving a synopsis of how NP-SL was formed he said the 35 Sierra Leoneans who formed the company had a vision of providing opportunities for everyone. He said the trend still continues by the company ensuring that many gain access to their products through entering into business partnerships with well meaning entrepreneurs, building and the commissioning of Filling Stations in different parts of the country. Kobi Walker stated that NP-SL Ltd is a responsible corporate citizen that means well for the nation.

“I want to assure all that as long as NP is here your fuel constraints will become things of the past,” he assured residents of the community.

The high point of the event was the cutting of the tape marking the commissioning of the new business entity followed by a vote of thanks which was done by the Proprietor of the 5 Star Gas Station, Mohamed Kuyateh.

Big Sister Unveils Elsie Kamara As Roommate No. 9

By Foday Moriba Conteh

One of Sierra Leone’s most outstanding contestants for the Big Sister Empowerment Show Season 3, a known personality, a mentor, an entrepreneur and a former fashion designer Elsie Kamara of “Team Better-Woman” on Thursday 21st October, 2021 was unveiled as the Roommate No.9 of the Big Sister Empowerment Show Season 3 Bestie Season during an online audition ceremony.

Elsie Kamara is a Sierra Leonean based in the United States of America, who was born in the North-Western region of Port Loko to Sierra Leonean parents who hailed from the same region.

She is currently pursuing nursing at the George State University in Atlanta, an entrepreneur in the US, and a former fashion designer. Among her hobbies are: yoga, reading books, meditating, participating in public developmental activities such as campaign, hiking etc.

Despite her schooling to become a professional nurse yet still her passion for fashion cannot be distracted by educational activities. She owns an own online vintage store called Spiritual Stylish of which her high sense of fashion is impeccable which shows her uniqueness.

Speaking to this medium after unveiling, Elsie Kamara noted that her exceptional potential has already garnered an appreciable fan base that believes in the “Team Better-Woman” mentality and that she has a mindset of a social as well as business entrepreneur, and that has spurred her entrepreneurial ventures in owning an online vintage store.

Underscoring her reason for partaking in the Big Sister Empowerment Show Season 3, she maintained that her intention is for her to relocate to her homeland Sierra Leone which will see her establish a business stating that it could also be visualized in her project on empowering women and girls through entrepreneurship in order to be self-employed or employed to generate income.

She also intended to use the platform to show Sierra Leoneans and the world at large how creative she is in terms of fashion designing, adding that her presence in the show will also awake the Diasporians to know that there is no place like home furthering that most people who fled from home never returned, that some have been away for 30 years and more and they have never took the venture of investing back home.

She believes that giving back to society is very key and can contribute towards the development of any nation.

“To all my fans I want to use the opportunity to commend you for believing in me and I promise you that I will definitely make you proud. After winning the show I will invest the money towards the empowerment of women and girls in the country through entrepreneurship,” she concluded.

Sierra Leone Swimming Association Concludes Election for New Executive

By Mary Kabay

Sierra Leone Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Association held its General Assembly meeting on October 23, 2021 at the Negus Nagas Complex, along the Grafton highway in Freetown.

As the national governing body for all aquatic sports in the country the association has sole rights for the development, growth and promotion of these sports at all levels locally and internationally. The sports that are associated to the organization includes: swimming, diving, water polo and open water.

The Congress was open with words of prayers from the Christian and Islamic faiths respectfully. Head of Communications of the Association, Judah Kamara, warmly welcomed all present.

Mohamed Abdul Turay, Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Association started off with the roll call of all the delegates that were present and announced the continuation of the deliberations of the Congress.

Percy AJ Nicholson, Coordinator of Sea Scout Association-Sierra Leone chaired the Congress. He welcomed the brief statement made by the Head of Media and Communications of the National Sports Authority, Eric Batillo Fomba.

On his part   Eric Batillo Fomba. Stated how he was also pleased with the Association and thanked its members for the way they have been comporting themselves.

He congratulated Titi Dumbuya for raising the flag of Sierra Leone high at the national level and disclosed to the members of the Association that the swimming discipline has been added to the 16 sporting disciplines that the Government is sponsoring ending his statement by thanking the outgoing Executive while encouraging the new Executive that will replace it to follow the footsteps of their predecessors and do more for the Association.

Chief Michael Shamsu Mustapha, a representative from the National Olympic Committee stated his appreciation for the way the Association had been running its affairs disclosing that his duty is to monitor the progress of the elections.

In his  keynote statement, Mohamed Abdul Turay, the then Secretary General of the Association, on behalf of the President who was absent said in recent years they have been fraught with many challenges, many of which have been beyond the control of not only our country but the world at large.

He pointed out how the Ebola outbreak saw a great lull in sporting activities within the country especially at a time when the Association was poised to step up its activities and projects with greater momentum to expand the sport nationally.

“When Ebola was declared ended in March 2016, the National Olympics Committee initiated a week-long Sport Jamboree which re-ignited sporting activities in the country and saw the SLSDWA introduce Water Polo to the public,” he continued stating how that was one of the major highlights of the event revealing that the Association went further to organize a coaching session for potential coaches for the sport.

He highlighted that throughout his tenure, they have been challenged by lack of financial resources, only mitigated by the introduction of an annual grant by the world Body, FINA from which the Association has benefitted over the past three years.

“The impact of both Ebola and Corona on the country’s economy meant that even well-meaning individuals that used to support the Association in the past could no longer do so as their businesses had suffered during both onslaughts,” he lamented disclosing were it not for the support from FINA, it would have been very difficult for the Association to carry out any activity.

He also acknowledged the sterling efforts of the Executive team that would go out of their way to use private funds to supplement whatever was allocated to the swimmers as stipends or trainings costs.

According to the Secretary General of the Association members of the team can stand up and hold their heads high for some key achievements over the past few years, namely, putting Sierra Leone on the international map by taking part in the World Games held in Brazil, the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Guangdong, South Korea and recently during the Tokyo Olympics in Japan.

He said while some swimmers may not have acquired laurels during those competitions there is no doubt that one could imagine the amount of joy that is generated when the millions of Sierra Leoneans worldwide are watching these international sporting events see the green, white and blue flag of our beloved nation amongst the number of those attending the opening ceremonies.

“I take this opportunity to thank the National Olympic Committee for all the support over the years, and also the Ministry of Sports. I have no doubt that the support will continue even after my tenure of office. It is always good to be steadfast in life, despite the challenges. With Good intentions, the correct focus and God’s favor, there is usually a light at the end of the tunnel,” he announced the activity report .

The Treasurer of the organization, Philip Bangura, read out the Financial Report of the Association dating from its last Congress in October 2017 till October 2021 which is approximately four years.

Climaxing the Congress was the conduct of a peaceful, free and fair election. At the end, eight (8) members were sworn into various positions. Mohamed Abdulia Turay emerged as President, Philip Bangura as Vice President,Kadiatu Kalilu as Treasurer, Abdul Turay as Secretary General, Judah Kamara as Assistance Secretary General, Hawa Dauda a representative for the women, Reginald Brian O. Sawyerr as PRO1and Lydia Tucker as PRO 2.

In 3 Years… Bolloré Doles Out Over Le240 Million Worth of Scholarships to 77 Students

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In continuation of rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility and support to the Government’s Human Capital Development initiative in the country, the Bolloré Transport & Logistics Company on Wednesday 20th October, 2021 awarded scholarships worth Le102, 110, 796 to 30 University students who are residents of both the Moa Wharf and Sea Side communities which fall within the operational area of the company. The awarding ceremony took place at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay at Cline Town in Freetown.

It could be recalled that the scholarship scheme was commenced by the Bolloré Transport & Logistics Company started 2019 during which period 20 students benefited and in 2020, 27 students were also awarded and this year the company has also awarded 30 students bringing it to a total of 77 students who have benefited so far from the scholarship programme with a total of over Le240 Million spent for the past three (3) years.

The beneficiaries were selected from different universities across the country namely Fourah Bay College (FBC), College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), University of Makeni (UNIMAK), Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), College of International Business Management and Technology (CIBMAT), UNITECH etc.

In her address, the Human Resource Manager of Bolloré Transport & Logistics, Claunnda Morgan, described the move by the company as part of fulfilling its Corporate Social Responsibility within their operational areas which are the Moa Wharf and Sea Side communities, adding that for the past three years they have supported 77 students from the scholarship programme with a total of over Le240 Million spent for the past three (3) years.

She added that they are pleased to assist the students as they pursue their courses, adding that after being in a similar position like them she understands what it means to acquire education in a nation like Sierra Leone.

The Human Resource Manager furthered revealed that the scholarship is strictly by merit and that students went through a Scholarship Committee headed the by Head of Communications of the Freetown Terminal Limited, Gassimu S. Fofana, who intimated that students are finally selected through an interview panel conducted by Bolloré Transport & Logistics among the dozens that applied underscoring how they took into consideration gender balance.

She encouraged them to take the opportunity the organization has offered them in order to achieve their dreams and become great people in society who will in return give back to society.

Osman S. Conteh, a graduate from Fourah Bay College with Bsc in Civil Engineering, who benefited from the scholarship in the 2017/2018 academic year and is currently working Bolloré Transport & Logistics, commended the company for their gestures in supporting the less privileged within the Moa Wharf and Sea Side communities.

He said that in 2017/2018 he was one of the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme which he said supported him greatly towards the completion of his studies.

He concluded that he is very proud to have benefited from the scholarship scheme of which he disclosed that through the support from the company he had graduated from Fourah Bay College with Bsc in Civil Engineering and he is also employee.

One of this year’s beneficiaries, M’balu Mohamed Bangura, a final year student at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), thanked Bolloré Transport & Logistics for the kind gesture which she graciously said is not only important but very timely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She noted that her aim is to contribute positively to her community stating how the scholarship would serve as a stepping stone to achieve that dream. “I pray that your company will yield more fruits for being one of the sponsors of my journey,” she expressed gratitude.

QNET CELEBRATES 23RD ANNIVERSARY AND KICKS OFF BI-ANNUAL FLAGSHIP CONVENTION

Direct selling company QNET uses 3D technology to transform its largest Convention into an immersive VR-style experience for a global audience of 500,000

Prominent Asian e-commerce based direct selling company QNET kicked off its 23rd Anniversary on September 8, with a virtual celebration event beamed across QNET’s offices and live-streamed to thousands of its distributors and customers in over 50 countries around the globe.

The celebrations were followed by QNET’s annual convention, V-Convention Connect, in October, in its virtual format for the third time.

The V-Convention Connect (VCC2021), was held across three days from October 9-11. The bi-annual flagship convention opened to a record-breaking audience with over 500,000 people worldwide logged in to its virtual broadcast. The V-Convention, usually a physical event held twice a year over a five-day period, showcases the company to its global distributor base. Given the pandemic, QNET has pivoted to the virtual format, and has continued to attract more participants from over 50 countries.

The Convention featured training programmes by direct selling professionals and QNET’s corporate leaders, new product launches, informational sessions on the state of direct selling by industry speakers, and QNET’s legacy of leadership in service, based on RYTHM, or Raise Yourself To Help Mankind. In conjunction with the Convention, QNET launched a cross-platform digital campaign, #VCC2021 in the run-up to the event to create an interactive experience for the participants and get them involved in the preparation of the event.

Key highlights of the convention include:

  • The global launch of QNET’s HomePure Complete Water Line product range, which includes its bestselling HomePure Nova 9-Stage Water Filtration System, the new HomePure Prefilter 1-mc and the HomePure Novasoft filter. Designed in Europe, the HomePure Complete Water Line is a multi-step water treatment system that provides users with exceptionally purified and contaminant-free water.
  • The announcement of upcoming collections for Bernhard H. Mayer, QNET’s luxury Swiss watch and jewellery brand. The segment teased a stunning array of dress watches in rose gold, a limited-edition automatic diver watch, and two new jewellery lines: the Pearl Icons Collection and the Bernhard H. Mayer Classé
  • An introduction to the new EDG3 Plus, a nutritional supplement formulated with US-patented ingredients to improve and strengthen the body’s immunity.
  • A feature on QNET’s social initiatives and CSR programmes across the globe carried out through the RYTHM Foundation.
  • The announcement of QNET’s sponsorship of a Bollywood movie that captures the journey and story of the Indian Cricket Team that won the T20 Championship in 2007.

“The success of both V-Convention Connect and QNET’s virtual anniversary celebration is the clearest signal that digitalisation is the future of QNET and the direct selling industry as a whole,” said Malou Caluza, CEO of QNET.  “Virtual events are an invaluable asset: they allow us to connect to a wider audience, and transcends all physical limitations such as travel costs and visa restrictions. We are excited to continue incorporating hybrid-style events and activities in the future to ensure each person has a chance to experience the fantastic products and resources, innovative service platforms, and strong global community that QNET offers.”

About QNET

QNET is one of Asia’s leading e-commerce based direct selling companies offering a wide range of wellness and lifestyle products to enable people to lead better lives. QNET’s business model has helped empower millions of entrepreneurs in nearly 100 countries worldwide since its inception in 1998.

QNET is headquartered in Hong Kong and has a local presence in over 25 countries globally.

QNET is a member of the Direct Selling Association in several countries and is also a part of the Hong Kong Health Food Association and the Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore among others.

QNET is also active in sports sponsorships, with its most popular partnership in football as the Official Direct Selling Partner of Manchester City Football Club.

For more information, please visit QNET’s website at www.qnet.net

QNET’S CEO, A CANCER SURVIVOR RECEIVES A CEO WORLD AWARD

The inspiring and fighting CEO of the multinational direct selling company QNET, Ms. Malou Caluza, wins a Globee in the 9th edition of the CEO World Awards 2021. Another award that rightly crowns her commitment to hard work and women entrepreneurship, in addition to her victory over cancer.

A Direct Selling industry veteran, Malou Caluza has been with QNET for the past 20 years, as its first Customer Service Officer and then moving up the ranks to become the company’s first female CEO.

A strong business development professional with a Commerce and Marketing degree from a university in the Philippines, she has acquired robust skills in Direct Selling Operations, Customer Relationship Management, Marketing Management, E-commerce, Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Strategic Planning and People Development over the years.

Malou Caluza is also a breast cancer survivor and an outspoken advocate for women in leadership. “Asia’s 15 Over 50” has featured her in its publication that celebrates Asia’s most successful women.

CEO World Awards celebrate the achievements of leaders, executives, and their management teams behind the year’s most outstanding initiatives and achievements. Chief Executive Officers, also known as CEOs lead the development of the organization’s short- and long-term strategy. This annual awards program recognizes individuals and teams who set industry benchmarks for excellence. All organizations private or public, corporations, non-profits, associations, vendors, and government organizations worldwide and from every industry are eligible to participate.

“We are proud to win the Globee and be recognized as an industry player in this year’s CEO World Awards,” says Ms. Malou Caluza, CEO of QNET “Behind this distinguished success is our teamwork through strategic vision, collaborative leadership style, dedication and passion to build innovative solutions. We believe this recognition from Globee Awards further validates our commitment to empowering more and more entrepreneurs and relentless drive to stay customer focussed.”

Judges from a broad spectrum of industry voices from around the world participated and their average scores and inputs determined the 2021 award winners.

See the complete list of 2021 winners here: https://globeeawards.com/ceo-world-awards/winners/

CEO World Awards are an annual industry and peers recognition program honouring CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and their management teams from organizations in every industry and of every size in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Canada and the USA, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean & Central, and South America, Middle East, and Africa. The Annual CEO World Awards is part of the SVUS Awards® recognition program from Silicon Valley in the United States of America. The coveted annual CEO World Awards program encompasses the world’s best in leadership, innovation, organizational performance, new products and services, excellence studies, corporate social responsibility, and milestones from every major industry in the world. Organizations from all over the world are eligible to submit nominations including public and private, for-profit and non-profit, largest to smallest and new start-ups.

 About the Globee Awards 
Globee Awards are conferred in eleven programs and competition: the American Best in Business Awards, Business Excellence Awards (Best Employers), CEO World Awards®, Communications Excellence Awards, Cyber Security Global Excellence Awards®, Disruptor Company Awards, Golden Bridge Awards®, International Best in Business Awards, IT World Awards®, Sales, Marketing, & Service Excellence Awards, and Women World Awards®. Learn more about the Globee Awards at https://globeeawards.com

twitter @globeeawards #globeeawards #ceoworldawards

About QNET
QNET is one of Asia’s leading e-commerce based direct selling companies offering a wide range of health, wellness and lifestyle products that enable people to lead better lives. QNET’s grassroots business model fuelled by the power of e-commerce has helped empower millions of entrepreneurs in more than 100 countries worldwide.

QNET is headquartered in Hong Kong and has a presence in more than 25 countries around the world through subsidiaries, branch offices, agency partnerships, and franchisees.

QNET is a member of the Direct Selling Association in several countries, as well as the Hong Kong Health Food Association, the Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore, and the Health and Dietary Supplements Association of Philippines.

QNET is also active in sports sponsorships around the world. Some of the more prominent partnerships include being the Direct Selling Partner of Manchester City Football Club and the African Club League Championships of CAF.

All of QNET’s CSR programmes and community development activities are conducted through RYTHM Foundation. To learn more visit www.rythmfoundation.org.

For more information, please visit QNET’s website at www.qnet.net.

1...837838839...1,372Page 838 of 1,372