By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their efforts towards contributing to the development of the West African Methodist Collegiate School, the West African Methodist Collegiate Buddies, Classes of 70s & 80s from all over the world have constructed and presented a multipurpose recreational sport court worth over 600 million old Leones to the school.
That disclosure was made during a snap press conference held on Tuesday 10th January, 2023 at the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists Hall on Campbell Street in Freetown.
Speaking during the press conference, the Chairman and Leader of the West African Methodist Collegiate Buddies, Classes of 70s &80s, Rugnab Wahadi Bangura said that the WAM Collegiate Buddies comprises of ex-pupils of the school who are in different parts across the globe.
He stated that the initiative of forming the WAM Collegiate Buddies started in 2019 in the United States of America when the West African Methodist Collegiate Old Boys Association United States branch was doing a program in order to raise funds for the rehabilitation of the chapel in the school, of which he stated that members of the WAM Collegiate Buddies deemed it fit to support the initiative by raising the sum of about 16,000 United States Dollars which was donated to the West African Methodist Collegiate Old Boys Association United States branch for the project.
Rugnab Wahadi Bangura maintained that in late 2019 a cross section of their members traveled to Sierra Leone in order to ensure that the organization is registered and also did a tour on the school in order to establish a base line as to what the condition of the school is and how can they improve on the current condition of the school.
He elaborated that when COVID-19 hit Sierra Leone they donated veronica buckets to the school in order to curtail the spread of the virus in the school, adding that the WAM Collegiate Buddies also put together a 3 year activity plan and one of the activities was the construction of the multipurpose recreational sport court in the school.
The Chairman and Leader said the multipurpose recreational sport court which is worth over 600 million old Leones is geared towards ensuring that pupils access the facility easier in order for them to get more exercise that leads to better physical development over the course of life.
Underscoring the challenges faced by WAM Collegiate Buddies, he said that after the completion of the sport court, they extended invitation to Principals from various schools and Governments officials to grace the opening ceremony.
He furthered that the President of the West African Methodist Collegiate Old Boys Association Sierra Leone Chapter took upon himself to invite Principals and sent a message to colleague old boys not to attend the function on the premise that WAM Collegiate Buddies is a rebellious group.
However, Rugnab Wahadi Bangura concluded by condemning the act by the President of the West African Methodist Collegiate Old Boys Association Sierra Leone Chapter which he said is undermining the development of the school.
This medium made reasonable efforts to get the side of the President of the West African Methodist Collegiate Old Boys Association Sierra Leone Chapter but all proved futile but this medium is willing to publish his side whenever he responds.
