Mrs. Alice Koroma, President Koroma's motherPresident Koroma’s mother Mrs. Alice Koroma and her sister Mrs. Jenny Conteh graced the occasion past week at Kamabai village during the launch of SLRTC Bus service to the area, starting with the bus which bears the inscription ‘Sylvester Fornah Koroma’ which is the name of the late husband of Mrs. Koroma and the President’s father.
The show was polished with the conspicuous presence of members of the Limba Descendant Association who were dressed in white T-shirt moving in and out of the newly constructed and magnificent conference center. The building has a portrait of the President boldly hovering on its frontage, bearing an inscription underneath which read “this our son with whom we are well pleased”.
The ceremony was face-lifted with highly skilled traditional dancers, among them the ‘matorma’, who entertained every dignitary present, but especially the President’s mother and her entourage.
The launching ceremony of the bus service, in actual fact, was short. The bus was driven securely in the compound of the conference hall so that Mammy Alice would easily walk to cut the tape. It apparently took the old woman (Mrs. Koroma) about twenty minutes to leave the stage and come down to the frontage of the building to perform her task. She was painstakingly aided-with her four legged walking stick, by one of her aides to come down the steps.
In cutting the tape, she said in a thrilled voice “this bus is named Sylvester Fornah Koroma, and I hereby commission it in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit-Amen.”
The Paramount Chief of Biriwa Limba chiefdom PC Alimamy Salifu Mana Kalawa III was practically restless as he moved every nook and cranny of the fairly big village to put things together. He expressed delight over what he considered “a relief in the area of transport system for my people.”
He said the bus service to Kamabai has ceased over a decade in the chiefdom and that he “appreciates the effort of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation for bringing government bus back to the people of that chiefdom and its environment”, adding that the initiative has virtually addressed part of his challenges in the chiefdom.
SLRTC Operations Coordinator Tamba Kaimachiande said “the bus has come to Kamabai and it is here for good. Nothing will stop the movement of the Kamabai to Freetown bus as long as we have started operating it. He directed that the bus will be accessible at Bus Station and Kissy Shell.
The Finance Manager Isaac Conteh said “the cost is twenty thousand Leones (Le20,000).”
Othman Sheriff is an experienced Sierra Leonean development professional, peacebuilding practitioner, professional journalist and human rights advocate with over two decades of engagement in community development, youth empowerment, education, humanitarian assistance and international development cooperation. Born and raised in Kenema District, Eastern Sierra Leone, he has dedicated much of his professional career to improving the socioeconomic conditions of vulnerable and marginalised populations, particularly disadvantaged young people, women, children and underserved rural communities.
As the Founder and Programme Director of Youth in Action for Development (YAD), Sheriff has played a leading role in mobilising international development assistance and coordinating community-driven interventions aimed at poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods, social inclusion and grassroots development. Over the years, he has facilitated the mobilisation and implementation of development projects worth billions of Leones, supported by international development partners, including European development institutions, humanitarian organisations and United Nations agencies.
A committed advocate for free and inclusive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Sheriff spearheaded the establishment of the Youth Resource Academy (YRA) in 2018, through which he has championed access to practical, employment-oriented education for underprivileged youth, particularly young women, school dropouts, single mothers, widows, unemployed youth and individuals from economically disadvantaged households. So far, the Academy has provided vocational, technical and entrepreneurship training opportunities to more than 2,000 youth helping them acquire marketable skills, pursue self-employment and improve their economic independence. He also solicit funds to provide start up kits for the youth who graduated from the academy.
In addition to his development and humanitarian work, Sheriff serves as the Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Critique Echo Newspaper, using journalism as a platform to promote accountability, responsible governance, social justice and public awareness of critical socioeconomic and human rights issues.
He is a dedicate member of many international peacebuilding networks including the United Religions Initiative (URI), International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP), Intercultural Leaders Network of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC)`s Youth Solidarity Fund, and the alumni Association of King Hamad Youth Empowerment Awards.
Through his leadership, advocacy and international partnerships, Sheriff continues to champion a vision of Sierra Leone in which disadvantaged young people have equitable access to education and economic opportunities, women and girls live free from violence and discrimination, human rights are respected, and communities are empowered to pursue peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development.
In cutting the tape, she said in a thrilled voice “this bus is named Sylvester Fornah Koroma, and I hereby commission it in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit-Amen.”
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