By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Patriotic Advocacy Network (PAN) has commenced its 2025 edition of the Leadership and Public Speaking Masterclass (LPMC) on September 1, 2025 at the Residual Special Court in Freetown, bringing together young leaders, professionals and advocates for a week of intensive training.
In his opening remarks, Convener and Chief Patriot, Ansumana Keita Esq., welcomed participants and facilitators, highlighting PAN’s 12-year track record of advocacy and impact both in Sierra Leone and abroad. He emphasized that the country continues to grapple with challenges of leadership and communication, making the program a timely intervention.
The sessions opened with Alpha Amadu Bah Esq., who addressed the “Foundation of Effective Leadership.” He reminded participants that leadership is not about position but about “influence for the common good,” stressing the pillars of integrity, vision, communication and awareness.
Pharm. Buya Nabie Bangura followed with a lecture on “Strategic Thinking and Visionary Leadership,” underscoring the importance of planning, inspiration and adaptability in the face of change. He classified leadership into task-smart, mission-oriented and people-smart, encouraging participants to treat challenges as opportunities.
On “The Fundamentals of Public Speaking,” Abubakarr Fomba Swaray Esq. drew lessons from the iconic speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, coining the “Lutherdela Effect.” He stressed clarity, audience awareness, rhetorical principles and body language as vital tools for powerful communication.
Lecturer, Sheku Putka Kamara , addressed decision-making and problem-solving, urging participants to embrace digital tools and reject one-size-fits-all approaches. “Problems will always exist, but they are solvable,” he assured.
Delivering the keynote, Hamid Marrah spoke on the theme “The Power of Purpose: Authentic Leadership and Financial Education for Youth.” He encouraged participants to replace FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) with JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) while outlining John C. Maxwell’s leadership principles: purpose, focus, knowledge, networking, responsibility and action.
The final session, led by Edward “Dictionary” Caulker, focused on interactive speaking techniques. He emphasized that audience engagement goes beyond entertainment to foster involvement, curiosity and connection. Using games and teasers, he highlighted attention, interaction, emotion, relevance and connection as the five pillars of effective engagement.
The opening day concluded with enthusiastic feedback from participants, who praised the blend of theory, practice and inspiration. PAN’s Leadership and Public Speaking Masterclass is expected to continue throughout the week, equipping participants with skills essential for transformational leadership in Sierra Leone and beyond.
