It was on Friday 9th September 2016 at the Madruga Awards, the Chairman of National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), Momoh Kemoh Konte was awarded as Personality of the Year and NATCOM as Best Parastatal of the
It was Ebola that put Sierra Leone under global attention in recent years. But for myself, it was Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella who inspired me to know Sierra Leone, a less fortunate country in West Africa. (Photo: SUN Xi, 孙 喜, author)
In September 2007, as an officer working for the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, I first met Dr. Yumkella, then the newly appointed Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), during the China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT).
I accompanied and assisted Dr. Yumkella through all his busy schedules during the conference. Through the extensive and close contacts, I realized that such a wise and energetic man will definitely be a promising leader for Sierra Leone and even our whole world in the future.
During personal communications, Dr. Yumkella shared lots of his past stories and also his ambitious dreams. His past experience of growing from a humble background and witnessing too many sad stories on the ground makes Dr. Yumkella to firmly pursue his personal mission deep in his heart: to help those in poor.
When I asked him, “in your opinion, what is the most valuable thing for poor people?”, “opportunity”, he replied without any hesitation. He strongly believes that as long as being given proper chances, most poor people can make great achievements. Therefore, what he has been doing so far have one common goal: creating more opportunities for people.
Through his excellent work for the UNIDO and the Sustainable Energy for All, Dr. Yumkella has gained worldwide reputation for addressing global issues, including poverty reduction, climate change, the Millennium Development Goals, and green industry and renewable energy.
Dr. Yumkella is well connected with the international community and has high exposure in both academia and global media, thus his reputation will be the best business card for Sierra Leone to attract foreign capital. More importantly, Dr. Yumkella is willing to serve his nation and people, even giving up his decent life in western countries.
Dr. Yumkella’s commitment, expertise and resources perfectly fit Sierra Leone’s current needs to develop its weak economy, with high youth unemployment, corruption and weak national cohesion.
In fact, Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources, such as diamonds, titanium, bauxite, gold and rutile, and it is home to the third-largest natural harbor in the world. However, most of its people still live in poverty. Why? Because it lacks of great leaders and good governance.
In comparison, a tiny city-state, Singapore has almost no natural resources expect for the harbor, but within several decades, it has become a world-class business center, with one of the highest GDPs per capita around the world. Its founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s contribution was the key.
Obviously, a responsible and visionary leader plays the crucial role in national development, especially for developing countries.
In the near future, only Sierra Leonean people’s wise votes can bring peace, prosperity and glory to the nation still in desperation. Clearly, Dr. Yumkella is the best choice!
SUN Xi, 孙 喜
The writer, a China-born alumnus of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, is an independent commentary writer based in Singapore.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Saturday 10th September, 2016, conducted random checks on West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) Centers across the country. The move was part of the Commission’s focus to improving integrity in the Educational Sector.
Following the Commission’s intervention, in coordination with the Police and Education Officer, Kono, two pupils, (names withheld) at the Koidu Secondary and Experimental Secondary Schools, Koidu City, Kono District, were caught with cell phones containing model answers to the 2015/2016 WASSCE Mathematics examination paper. Our initial investigation has revealed that these pupils had gained access to the Mathematics questions prior to the Examinations from social media.
The ACC briefly took the pupils into care after the paper, questioned and released them to continue taking the other papers. However, both phones are in the custody of the Commission for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Commission notes that examination malpractice has become an issue of public interest, as it has the potential to undermine the human resource base of the country. It is with this in mind that the ACC has heightened its surveillance of examination centers nationwide to detect and prevent examination malpractices. The Commission is mindful that with the reopening of schools, there is the tendency for authorities to demand unauthorized extra-charges from parents for admission.
The Commission wishes to assure the public that it will continue to be vigilant in detecting and preventing corruption nationwide.
ACC Freetown
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
Old friends explore new possibilities Until she travelled abroad when she started college, Zara Mwanzia had thought that chapati—the delicious bread she ate while growing up, which most Kenyans still eat—was a local delicacy. “I was
We in the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), have discovered that the failure in service provision, implementation of misguided health policies, plans and projects and above all corruption, have had a devastating
As part of the Hajj rituals, Sierra Leone pilgrims on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 completed the slaughtering of about 800 sheep and goats in the Holy city of Mecca. Chairman of the 2016 Hajj Committee to
‘I am heartened our biggest achievement has been the impact we have had on ordinary people who before now have no institution to turn to for help. These days, when people are faced with a
Madrugar, a prominent club at Fourah Bay College has named popular lawyer and humanitarian, Abu Bakarr Turay Lawyer of the Year in their just concluded Awards Night held in Freetown. (Photo: Lawyer Abu Bakarr S.
The Kallons are a brave family. They were all infected by the Ebola virus at the peak of the outbreak in Daru town, 36 miles from Kailahun, the eastern-most district of Sierra Leone. They fought
The perception held by some media critics concerning the operations of the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited is contrary to normal expectation. As Sierra Leoneans we must bear in mind that Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL)
The Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice will launch the ‘Scaling Up Access to Justice Leaving No One Behind’ campaign at an elaborate
Popular Sierra Leonean film actor, Desmond Finney, has been invited by Affrinity Production to witness the first ever Special Movie Awards scheduled for 30th September 2016 in The Gambia. (Photo: Actor Desmond Finney with his
Sierra Leone’s first ever table tennis paralympian athlete - George Wyndham, is bringing to the forefront disability issues on a global platform, as he sets forth to represent the country’s paralympic Table Tennis Division in
Violence is now like a tradition among young people in Sierra Leone, This is very worrisome as it is affecting our effort towards enhancing quality education for children. And it is also affecting our economy
Chelsea Football Fans have praised disabled children in Sierra Leone for supporting the North London outfit. This revelation was made by the founder and Chief Executive Director, Disabled International Foundation Sierra Leone/UK, (DIF-SIL), Madam Imambay Kadie
