By: Mohamed Sahr
In the course of staging its maiden quiz and debate competitions in Port Loko District, the President and Founder of the Ibrahim Brima Swarray Foundation restored hope in the minds of school-going pupils in Port Loko Township on Saturday 28th January 2023.
When making the keynote address, Ibrahim Brima Swarray, the Chief Executive of the National Public Procurement Authority who also doubles as the Founder and President of the Ibrahim Brima Swarray Foundation said the people of Port Loko District should equally taste the same joy another parts of the country had been enjoying.
He added that he deemed it as a justice to them by serving the Port Loko pupils with his nationwide quiz and debate competitions in the bid of complimenting the flagship agenda of His Excellency President Bio’s Free Quality Education.
“Free Quality Education is not just a right but a must for pupils in this country’’, Chief Ibrahim Brima Swarray admitted.
Mr. Swarray disclosed that Sierra Leoneans should believe in women’s empowerment especially for the enhancement of a better tomorrow and for gracing an equal level playing field in terms of job employment, participation in parliament and taking part in conscious decision-making.
He said a 30% quota had been given to women in the just-concluded Gender Empowerment Bill that was passed in parliament in recent days.
Chief Swarray revealed that there is no way Sierra Leone can grow if Sierra Leoneans are not educated. He implored Sierra Leoneans to uphold education. “Education is a conscious and deliberate effort for all of us. If it is a deliberate effort, then it has to be an inspiration to everybody,’’ NPPA Boss affirmed.
He furthered that Free Quality Education serves as a golden opportunity for pupils in Sierra Leone and they should tap into it to compete with other developing nations across the world. Chief Swarray urged especially the girls to handle education with utmost concern as loads of good tidings are in store for them through the commitment of President Bio and the First Lady, Doctor Fatima Bio. He added that politicians in Sierra Leone are public servants and they are here to serve the people of Sierra Leone.
Edie Sorrie Kamara, a pupil of the Port Loko Catholic Senior Secondary School and winner of the Best Debate Team felt grateful for providing such a platform by the Ibriham Brima Swarray Foundation in showcasing their speaking prowess amid tens of thousands of pupils and colleague debaters. He said as a result of his hard work, they emerged victorious in the end.
Sorie encouraged his colleagues to always earmark their dreams and be determined in their academic journey.
Mariama Bassiatu Kamara, a pupil of the Free Pentecostal Mission Academy Junior Secondary School and the winner of the Ibrahim Brima Swarray Academic Trophy in the quiz category said no sooner she was given the task to lead her school than she started studying hard and going extra miles. She felt excited about bagging the award.
Dennis Sahr Jones, Teacher Coordinator of the Ibriham Brima Swarray Academic Trophy and teacher of the Port Loko Catholic Secondary School said winning the debate competition did not come as surprise because he had kept his pupils on their toes hoping that they would win the competition and indeed they emerged as the champions. Mr. Jones furthered that despite being in the provinces, better brains are stationed in these provinces than in the big cities. “My school would challenge any big schools in towns and even internationally,’’Sahr Jones assured.
He thanked the Ibriham Brima Swarray Foundation for organizing such an event in Port Loko District. Mr Jones admonished the Foundation to endeavour to spread their wings across other schools in various regions as there have been lots of brains in those regions.
Victoria Kanu, a parent at Port Loko said such event would make children bold enough and would serve as a motivation to others. She called on Sierra Leonean mothers to encourage their girl child to acquire quality education which President Bio has made a clear pathway to identify their full potential.
The Best two Quiz teams were Free Pentecostal Mission Academy with 54 points and Movement of Faith Islamic Secondary School with 51 points. Port Loko Catholic Secondary School clinched the Best Debate Team Award and EduAid Secondary School took the second position.
