Sierra Leone Embassy Strategizes for Successful 2010 Hajj
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Middle East and the Gulf States, H.E. Wusu B. Munu, Friday, 22nd October, 2010, hosted Sierra Leoneans in Riyadh to a Strategic Planning Meeting for this year’s Muslim pilgrimage, “Hajj.” (Photo: H.E. Wusu Munu talking to his officers)
The meeting which took place at the Chancery Building in Central Riyadh was chaired by the Minister Counsellor/Head of Chancery, Mr. Ibrahim S. Yilla and it attracted a good number of Sierra Leoneans in Riyadh.
In his opening remarks, the Ambassador thanked his nationals for the role they played in last year’s “Hajj”. He informed them that, now that the Government has taken over the organization of the Hajj, it was therefore, even more incumbent upon them to work diligently towards the success of this year’s Hajj.
He informed them about the officials who will accompany this year’s would-be pilgrims to the holy land and that the embassy has also appointed Sierra Leone nationals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to work in collaboration with each of the officials from Freetown.
These include officials for: Administration and Passports, Administration and Food, Women Affairs, Transportation, Housing and Luggage in the holy sites, ‘Tawaaf’ and Stoning at Jamaaraat, etc.
A cross section of Sierra Leoneans at the meeting
Explaining why the embassy convened the meeting, the Ambassador said that he wanted to discuss with Sierra Leone nationals how best to select appropriate persons that would match up with the Heads of the various departments the Sierra Leone Hajj Mission has established.
L-R President of the Union, Othman Kargbo and ex-President Ibrahim Koidowui
“I think we here can effectively team up with them for a successful Hajj which is in the interest of the pilgrims and the country. As as an embassy, one of our roles is to cater for the welfare of our citizens” the Ambassador told his audience.
“We all have a social responsibility to help our fellow citizens practice their religious rites and Hajj is one of the fundamental tenets of the Muslim faith,” the eloquent Ambassador pointed out.
Responding, the President of the Sierra Leone Nationals Union, Mohamed Othman Kargbo, expressed satisfaction at the initiative of the embassy to convene such a meeting which he described as “Strategic and Important” for this year’s Hajj.
He assured the embassy that, his Union in collaboration with the students in the Kingdom would work cooperatively with the embassy to service the pilgrims from the day of their arrival to the day of their departure.
L-R HOC Yilla and HE Munu listening keenly to their Nationals
Meanwhile, the pilgrims are expected to arrive at the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah in the next few days.
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, which able-bodied Muslims must perform at least once in their life time, if they can afford it.
According to statistics available with the Saudi Hajj Ministry, over 2,000,000 pilgrims from 85 countries converge on Makkah – the holiest place in Islam – every year, to take part in an event which combines piety and passion.
Alhaji M.B. Jalloh, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy, Riyadh – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Mallam Osman
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We hope government would not include the likes of Alpha Kanu’s, if, they want a succesful hajj as reported in this article. Thanks to SEM for bringing us news reports from around the globe, including the holy land where we had little or no information about before the coming of Kothor Ernest.
26th October 2010