By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The management of NP Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd.) in its usual style of engaging the media, on Tuesday 25th April, 2023 invited a cross-section of the media to lunch at its Cotton Tree office in central Freetown.
The event was graced by top NP-SL executives. The main speaker was Ambassador Kobi Walker – Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Other top executives seated at the High Table were Vandi Bockarie, Crispin Mackay, Desmond G. Williams, Gibril Saccoh and Dr. Williette James who is the NP-SL Ltd. Communications Director and who also performed the role of chairperson of the occasion.
In a joking manner, Dr. James introduced the main speaker Amb. Kobi Walker as NP ‘Jagaban’, a statement which received tumultuous applause and laughter.
Taking the podium, Amb. Walker narrated a brief history of NP-SL Ltd. He said amongst other things that, some forty odd years ago, a group of thirty-five Sierra Leoneans denied enjoying their terminal benefits and decided to use it to buy shares into the National Petroleum which was up for liquidation. He added that it was the current President Julius Maada Bio who at that time so many years ago that encouraged them and even made it possible for them to assume leadership of NP-SL Ltd.
“Since then, we can all see how NP-SL Ltd. has grown and as Sierra Leoneans we should also be proud because NP-SL Ltd. is the only indigenous company that has a presence in other sub-regional countries. Therefore, we need the support of the media to tell Sierra Leoneans and the world at large that NP-SL Ltd. is the best corporate social responsibility performer and we will also welcome the media to do crosscheck all and any information they have about NP-SL Ltd. before going to press as our doors are always open,” he said.
According to him, there was a time when the NP-SL Ltd. was inundated with bad press reports following the arrival of a rival company APP. “At that time, it was very unfortunate that almost every press house wrote exciting stories about APP and wrote very unexciting and damaging stories about NP-SL Ltd. It was only the Calabash Newspaper and One Drop that cared to ask us for our own side to the story and we told them and they wrote. I thank them for that,” Amb. Walker informed his audience which was mainly composed of Editors and Managers of newspapers, radio and TV stations in Sierra Leone.
He used the opportunity to encourage journalists to always consider NP-SL Ltd. as an entity that always has its doors open, as it does engage in dubious or nefarious acts.
He went further to state that NP-SL Ltd. within the last ten years has invested a little over $30M (thirty million dollars), adding that they have over 46 fuel stations, in addition to forming alliances with over 200 retail outlets across Sierra Leone. He further stated that currently, NP-SL Ltd. provides 80% fuel to the government, despite the fact that payment for this is not as fast as they would like it.
The climax of the event was the launch of the NP-SL Ltd. maiden magazine “NP ZONE” which is a very colorful and interesting document that explains in detail what the NP-SL Ltd. is about and all other pertinent information.
According to Dr. James, this is just the maiden edition. “Others will follow,” she said.
