By Esther Wright
One of the most effective mining companies operating within the country, Seawright Mining Company (SMC), during an impressive event graced by people from all walks of life, handed over the first ultra-modern Senior Secondary School, which has been transformed to a polytechnic, to the people of Kenema, Gorama Mende Chiefdom with the objective of supporting the Government’s Free Quality Education (FQE) drive.
Many have described the mining company’s gesture as a move geared towards easing the challenge to access education in the community.
The multi-purpose ultra-modern polytechnic, which is estimated at the tune of Le11 billion, was handed over by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Seawright, Jabulani Mkoko to the Chief of Gorama Mende Chiefdom, Haja Maraima Gasama through the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Musa Timothy Kabba on Saturday 9th October 2021 at Tungie.
The ultra-modern polytechnic consists of an administrative block, equipped library, 9 class rooms in three blocks, canteen, a hall, 2 equipped science labs, 1 equipped computer lab, a staff quarter with 6 rooms and two pallor each in 2 blocks, solar panels of 50KVA, 55 desks and chairs, long plastic table, school brass band, 4 freezers with 2 small size, PA system and projector among others.
Explaining the purpose of the meeting, Hon. Hafij Maada Kanja of Constituency 18 explained how his constituency was having 10 exploration companies but later saw 2 of them, noting that out of the 2 companies, Vimetco also left and Seawright Mining remained.
He explained further that the construction of school came about when a request was made by two school pupils during the handing over of an ultra-modern cold room for which Dr.Seawright made the proclamation of meeting that need.
He said the purpose of the meeting is for Seawright Mining to handover the facility to the community through the Ministry of Mines, which will in turn hand it over to the Government to be utilized as a polytechnic.
Mkoko maintained that as a company, they took into account the human capital development vision of President Julius Maada Bio, and the concerns that some of the higher institutions of learning in Sierra Leone don’t have all the facilities for conducive learning environment.
He emphasized that in order for the facility to give out the desired impact, they brought advanced equipment for it to match international standards.
He pointed out that human capital development is not a one-man business but one that needs lot of hands to make it work, noting that Government has the requisite skills to run such a facility.
The SMC COO ended by thanking the community for allowing them to do business in the chiefdom and the country as a whole.
The Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Musa Timothy Kabba said every member of the society is responding to the call of President Julius Maada Bio’s human capital development vision.
He disclosed that over 20% of the country’s money has been invested by the President on education, adding that the capacity was not there for the people to develop themselves but that through President Bio’s vision, they are bringing it.
Mines Minister encouraged the audience not to take education lightly as the President is not taking it lightly.
He thanked Seawright Mining Company for such a facility and President Bio for his educational vision.
The Minister emphasized that when the mind is educated and developed one will not have any problem to develop the country.
“I am proud to have Seawright Mining Company and Dr.Seawright as a partner. This is a small company with an exploration licence that has done tremendous things in the country. If we place a ballot box today, Seawright mining will win,” the Minister stated.
He described Tungie as a place that has been lightened up as such a structure has made it strategic and that it will be one of the most profitable communities in the country.
Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz Kamara commended the Paramount Chief and Dr.Seawright for such a facility, pointing out that such a move resonates with the dream of President Julius Maada Bio which is human capital development.
The Deputy Minister said that Government has been deliberate with the move to ensure human capital development.
He urged the community to take very good care of the facility as Government is playing its part and depend on community as their partner to play their own part.
Beside the ultra-modern polytechnic in Tungie, SMC blueprint are visible in communities beyond their operational areas as the company has undertaken school projects, donated teaching and learning materials, road/bridge constructions, water wells construction, donated billions of Leones to help fight COVID-19, construction of modern cold rooms, empowering teachers and providing the first aquaculture system for Njala University among others.
The signed certificate and keys to the facility was presented to the Chief of Gorama Mende Chiefdom, Haja Maraima Gasama by SMC COO.
