By: Mamajah Jalloh
The Government and people of India have donated 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to Sierra Leone in support of the National School Feeding Programme, aimed at improving pupils’ nutrition, school attendance and access to quality education.
The donation was formally received on Wednesday, 4th November 2026, by the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, Conrad O. Sackey, at the World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Kissy, Freetown.
The handing-over ceremony was attended by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and officials from the High Commission of India to Sierra Leone. The rice is expected to be distributed to schools across the country to support the Government’s school feeding initiative.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Sackey emphasised that the donation had one destination and one purpose: “the plates of our pupils through the National School Feeding Programme.”
He noted that school feeding plays a critical role in keeping children in school, improving attendance, encouraging girls to remain in the education system and ensuring that every pupil has a fair opportunity to succeed, regardless of their family’s economic circumstances.
The Minister expressed profound gratitude to the Government and people of India, particularly His Excellency Norbu Negi, High Commissioner of India to Sierra Leone, for the generous contribution.
He described the donation as a reflection of the longstanding friendship between Sierra Leone and India, built on shared values and a common belief that education remains one of the surest pathways to national development.
For his part, India’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Norbu Negi, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting food security and improving educational opportunities for children in Sierra Leone.
He explained that the donation was intended to support schoolchildren, assist vulnerable families and encourage pupils to remain in school.
The High Commissioner further highlighted India’s appreciation of the importance of school feeding programmes, noting that the initiative aligns with the Government of Sierra Leone’s Big Five Game Changers Agenda.
He described the donation as a testament to the strong diplomatic relations and enduring partnership between the two countries.
He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to strengthen the Free Quality Education Programme.
Meanwhile, the Ministry assured the public that the distribution of the donated rice would be conducted with transparency and accountability to ensure that it reaches the intended schools and pupils.