September 21, 2021
By Aruna Kamara in Bo
The Resident Minister Southern Region, Mohamed E.K Allie has commissioned Grace Academy School in Limba, Bagbo Chiefdom, Bo District on Friday 17 September 2021.
Welcoming the guests, Paramount Chief Raymond Koker said he was happy to receive all the invited guests to his Chiefdom.
PC Koker informed a large number of visitors are in his chiefdom because of the importance they all attach to education.
He reiterated that education is the key to development and assured the gathering that he was ready to give his full support to the project.
On the purpose of the school project, the founder Pastor Daniel Luseni disclosed he is a Sierra Leonean who left Sierra Leone in 2013 but he was fortunate to meet one Madam Lilian in 2014 and shared his vision with her.
Pastor Luseni stated that he returned to Sierra Leone in 2017 and visited Bagbo where he saw pupils trekking long distances to access school. He said he was not happy about the rigours the pupils went through to access education.
He added that the horrible state of the pupils to access education motivated him to open a school in the town.
“I also decided to open a school in the town to reduce the spate at which bike riders pregnate and abandon girl children whom they often ride to the distance schools,” he disclosed.
Pastor Daniel Luseni said as a pastor, he first built a Church in Limba Bagbo to be followed by a private School in the township.
He explained that he was able to undertake the project with the salary that he received from his pastor and the money his friends and partners in Holland used to offer him that enabled him to build a school called Grace Academy in his home town.
He further disclosed that all the classes are equipped with fans, computers, electricity, medical facility, two school buses to transport the pupils including one bike which is used to transport pupils to and from areas where the roads are very bad for a vehicle to utilize.
The founder said that for quality in the school, he went to Bo and brought trained and qualified teachers who have qualifications such as Teachers Certificate (TC), Higher Teacher’s Certificates (HTC), and Bachelor of Education.
He added that all his staff members have been provided with accommodation and other opportunities.
Pastor Luseni said the school has started this 2021/2022 academic year with 300 pupils from Kindergarten, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary School.
He said that there are plans to open another school in Bagbo Chiefdom,Towama in the Tikonko Chiefdom, Bo District.
“My aim is to see more children in schools instead of making money,” he assured.
Supervisor of Schools for Bagbo Chiefdom,Solomon Siaka revealed Grace Academy is now among 40 schools which he is supervising. He said that parents should not only send their children to the school but it is their responsibility to monitor them. Deputy Mayor of Bo City Council, Joseph Smart said parents have a responsibility in the development of their children.
Leonard Roukons from Holland said it is God who made the project happen.
He thanked the Bagbo Community on behalf of his people in Holland for supporting the school project.
“They will continue to support the school,” he assured.
Making statement at the commissioning, Mohamed E.K Allie said he brought greetings from His Excellency the President Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh.
Mr. Allie said that government has done so much in the education sector and more children are now in school than ever before.
He said one week ago, President Bio Commissioned 100 junior secondary schools across the country and today he is at Limba Bagbo to Commission Grace Academy, a private school built by a son of the soil, Pastor Daniel Luseni.
The Minister said that Grace Academy is a fantastic project as it is of quality and standard.
Mr. Allie said government will continue to provide the enabling environment to ensure more people open schools.
He appealed to the people of Bagbo to maintain the facilities that Pastor Luseni has provided for their children.