By Prince Scott
The Alhaji Sheku Mohamed Sidibay Foundation, a non Profit and non-governmental charitable organization, on 12th April 2021, donated food items to vulnerable people and widows within the koidu township, kono District, marking the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan. The items donated and Presented at the Islamic Primary school in Koidu by the Chief Executive officer of SierraSTAR Group, who is also the Chief Pioneer of the Alhaji Sheku Mohamed Sidibay Foundation, Abdulai Sidibay, fondly called ‘Sidibay the Bomber,’ were 50 bags of rice, 5 Bags of onions, 5 bags of sugar, 30 packets of Maggi, a cow and the sum of Ten Million Leones.
Speaking at the Presentation ceremony chairman of Diamond Dealers Association, Prince kai Saquee, stated that the donations are made in the spirit of the Ramadan, which is one of the five pillars of Islam; to give zakat. He reiterated the essence of Ramadan and the tenets that are enshrined in the religion.
According to him, Ramadan is not only a period of abstinence, but also a time to be thankful to Allah for his bounties, adding that this is “why we are here to pay tribute to our late father Alhaji Sheku Mohamed Sidibay, who believes in this aspect of giving during this holy month. Though he is not alive, we want to ensure that this will continue and will be done periodically by the Alhaji Sheku Mohamed Sidibay Foundation”. He also stated that Ramadan is the time to relate and empathize with those that are less fortunate and that this is the reason for the donation of the items. He added that the Holy month is a period for Muslims to reflect on their actions and relationships with one another.
In his keynote address, Chief Pioneer of the late Alhaji Sheku Mohamed Sidibay Foundation, Alhaji Abdulai Sidibay, said people spend monies on things that are not necessary, leaving vulnerable people unattended, which, according to him, is not good in the sight of God.
“This foundation was initially the Abdulai Sidibay Foundation, but for the legacies of my late father it will now be called the Late Sheku Mohamed Sidibay Foundation, which will keep the memories of our father through its charitable work in Sierra Leone, as he was well known for his humanitarian gesture in kono and other parts of the country”, he told his audience.
“Today we are here to support widows, orphans, and other vulnerable people selected by our team as mandated by islam. Associating ourselves with you during the holy month of Ramadan by donating food items and cash is an appreciation of the mutual beneficial relationship between our late father and you all present here” he added.
“As a foundation we are going to diversify our humanitarian gesture nationwide. We want to ensure we impact lives through this foundation”, he concluded.
To climax the occasion was the symbolic handing over of the food items and introduction of members of the Sidibay family done by the Chief Pioneer Alhaji Abdulai Sidibay. Present at the ceremony were the Sidibay brothers: Alhaji Sidibay, Mohamed Sidibay, Musa Sidibay, Mustapha Sidibay,, Sulaiman Sidibay and Abubakarr Sidibay.
Thank you very much Alhaji Sheku Mohamed foundation for your tireless efforts in ensuring that the poor people get their basic needs. Thanks a billion for that 👏 May Allah reward you all abundantly… 🤲🏾