By Alfred Fornah
Former Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office in Sierra Leone, Alhaji Sanusi Tejan Savage, has been the first Sierra Leonean to be recently appointed Chief of Mission in the United Nations- Migration Agency. Before his recent appointment he served in the position as Head of IOM Office in this country for almost ten years.
IOM members of staff in the Country Office in Uganda earlier this month were delighted to welcome Mr. Savage as their new Chief of Mission. In his capacity, the Sierra Leonean appointee will now oversee the operations of IOM Uganda.
He was acclaimed by Sierra Leoneans as well as organizations including the Afro-European Medical and Research Network- (AEMRN) -a Sierra Leonean diaspora led organization based in Geneva.
Also, the West African Youth Network for Peace, Education and Economic Development has showered praises on Mr. Savage for his commitment and support to youth empowerment. Recently, he was awarded by Diaspora Focus for his pragmatic support to human capital development and his role in leveraging diaspora contribution to national development.
Equipped with 20 years of organizational experience especially on migration related issues and programmes, Alhaji Sanusi Tejan has been Head of IOM Sierra Leone for the better part of the last decade.
As a Sierra Leonean national, he previously led operations at the IOM Office in Liberia between 2003-2004 in the capacities of Operations Liaison Officer, Operations Officer, and Acting Head of Office in 2011. He also served as the team lead in the repatriation of Liberian refugees from Tema Port in Ghana to Free Port in Monrovia in 2004.
Among other critical assignments, Alhaji Sanusi Tejan led the IOM response against the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone between 2014 and 2016. Before joining the UN – Migration Agency, Alhaji Sanusi Tejan worked at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone.
From various sources, Alhaji Sanusi Tejan is described as a good man and a result-oriented leader who strives to facilitate and compliment his staff to ensure they excel in their work. Besides being a seasoned international civil servant, he is also very passionate about football. He is the current Chairman of Ports Authority Football Club.
He serves as Team Manager for the Sierra Leone under 17 Football team (Sierra Stars) from 2001-2003. His effective leadership, among other things, led to the Sierra Stars qualification for the Under 17 Junior World Cup tournament in 2003 in Finland for the first time in the history of Sierra Leone football.
