By Ibrahim Sorious Samura
One of Sierra Leone’s renowned entertainment gurus in the country, Alhaji K. Tarawally, fondly known as Laj-K will be awarded as AFRICA YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR at the 2019 edition of the Young Persons Award and Dinner, which is a segment of the Young Entrepreneurs International Summit (YEIS) to be hosted on the 8th December 2019 in Lagos, Nigeria.
The Young Entrepreneurs International Summit (YEIS) is a gathering of outstanding young entrepreneurs and person from across various parts of the globe. The Young Entrepreneurs International Summit (YEIS) works in accordance with the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which shows the inclusion of youths not just as beneficiaries of the agenda, but also playing a Key Role in Policy making and actualization. The policy, amongst others states how Youth policies can help achieve youth-related objectives.
A statement from YEIS reads:
“In a bid to recognise youth development, the Young Entrepreneurs International Summit (YEIS) respectfully writes to request you as a Participant at the Young Persons Award and Dinner (YPAD) scheduled to take place at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos on the 8th December 2019, 5pm.”
It continues, “…The Advisory Board of Young Entrepreneurs International Summit under the Chairmanship of Prof. Nabhit Kapur PsyD has also decided to celebrate your many achievements as one of the AFRICA YOUNG PERSONS OF THE YEAR at the 2019 edition of the Young Persons Award and Dinner.”
“This award is a testament of your efforts as an OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSON and commitment to the development of the global economy.”
This year’s theme is “GLOBAL ECONOMY: The Impact and Importance of Diversity amongst Young Entrepreneurs.”
Alhaji K. Tarawally is a distinguished young Sierra Leone who has established himself as a successful entrepreneur and media personality. He is the CEO of LAKE Productions (SL) Limited, a leading event management, essential service provider, marketing, advertising multimedia production company in Sierra Leone.
As a media mogul, Mr. Tarawally has successfully served some of the biggest media institutions in Sierra Leone in various capacities as a reporter, producer and presenter, and also serving as senior management staff for institutions such as Foundation Hirondelle/CTN (Radio Mount Aureol), Premier Tok Radio, Premier Newspaper, Star Radio, Total News Newspaper, Afri Radio and the African Young Voices Television (AYV TV). At the AYV, Mr. Tarawally served as Head of Communications and Public Relations, and Coordinator of Internship, Volunteers, Industrial Experience Training and Recruitment Programme. He is also the Host of the popular Entertainment TV show – ‘GATEWAY’. He previously served as Head of Programme, Monitoring and Quality Control at the AYV Media Empire for two years.
Mr. Tarawally is a towering figure in the entertainment industry of Sierra Leone, who over the past decade has consistently been organising the top entertainment shows and awards through his company, LAKE Productions. He is also a strong advocate for better reforms in the arts and creative industries for the betterment of all. He was the founding President of the Sierra Leone Radio DJ’s Association (SLeRaDA), now SL DJ’s Union (SLeDU).
Alhaji K. Tarawally holds a B.A (Honours) degree in Mass Communications and a Diploma in Peace and Conflict Resolution at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, plus a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from the YALI Regional Leadership Center, GIMPA University in Accra, Ghana. Mr. Tarawally is a part-time lecturer at LICCSAL Business College – teaching Broadcast Media, Multimedia and Public Relations.
He had contested for a Parliamentary Seat in Constituency 128 under the National Grand Coalition (NGC) in the 2018 General Elections in Sierra Leone.
He has also built a niche in sports, serving as Organising Secretary of Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) among others. Currently, Alhaji is the Head of Marketing, Communication and Public Relations for Mighty Blackpool Football Club, the most successful football club in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Tarawally is a recipient of multitudes of awards and recognitions across Sierra Leone and Africa as follows:
✅ Most Outstanding Entertainment Promoter in Sierra Leone’ 2019 by National Youth Led Award.
✅ 100 Most Influential Young Persons in West Africa’, by the Confederation of West Africa Youth Forum in Lagos, Nigeria in 2018.
✅ 100 Most Inspiring Sierra Leoneans Award’, by the United Venture Corporation.
✅ 2018 West Africa Young Leadership Award’, by CWAY/ECOWAS Youth received in Ghana.
✅ 100 Most Influential Young Persons Award’, crowned as Youth Ambassador by the Ministry of Youth Affairs of Sierra Leone in 2018.
✅ Special Recognition and Award by the National Youth Commission and FePyoCAN.
✅ 2018 Honorary Media Personality Award’, by The Queenak-China Foundation Sierra Leone.
✅ Installed as Youth Ambassador’ for the Confederation of West Africa Youths (CWAY) in 2019.
Mr. Tarawally was profiled in the Sierra Youth and West Africa Youth Magazines as one of the ‘100 Most Influential Young Sierra Leoneans and West Africans’ respectively, in 2018, and many others.
Mr. Tarawally reveals that he is happy for this recognition and assures to always make Sierra Leone proud.
